ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s 2018 recruiting class is unlike any in recent history. Coach Sean Miller has assembled a crew of graduate transfers, European players — and one blue-chip player — as he attempts to get UA deeper into the NCAA Tournament. Miller talked this week about what he expects from each player. Here's what he said:Â
Sean Miller breaks down ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats' new signing class, player by player
Sean Miller breaks down all five incoming players and what they might mean to the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats next season.
By Michael Lev ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
A new class of Wildcats
PG Justin Coleman
Who he is: A 5-foot-10-inch, 170-pound grad transfer from Samford
Miller says: “He’s your quintessential point guard. He passes the ball extremely well. He’s also capable of scoring and shooting. He’s older. He’s somebody that is in his fifth year of college. Every person that we talked to that had coached him or been around him, the two words that kept popping up were ‘high character.’ I would say from a leadership perspective, even though he’ll be a new player on our team, he’ll give us that age and that experience that this team really needs.â€
Sean Miller on Samford transfer Justin Coleman: “We had a really hard fight to convince him to come to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. He’s your quintessential point guard.â€
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
G Devonaire Doutrive
Who he is:Â A 6-5, 175-pound incoming freshman from Los Angeles
Miller says: “When our season ended, we needed that first player to say yes, and he was that guy. Devonaire has a world of talent. But he progressed in his senior year of high school by leaps and bounds. I would say the late-bloomer tag on Devonaire is the right tag. Usually when you hit your stride late, you keep improving. I believe that will be the case with him. He’s a tremendous athlete. Can really handle the ball. Somebody who’s versatile. He can play multiple positions. Also a great kid who has worked hard in his life to overcome and fight.â€
Sean Miller on 4-star combo guard Devonaire Doutrive: “Devonaire has a world of talent. ... He progressed in his senior year by leaps and bounds.â€
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
F Ryan Luther
Who he is: A 6-9, 225-pound grad transfer from Pitt
Miler says: “He’s played for two tremendous coaches, Kevin Stallings and Jamie Dixon. Both of those coaches rave about him as a kid and as a player. I know his family well, very similar to my relationship with T.J. McConnell and his family. Kind of grew up drinking the same water. With Ryan and Chase Jeter … both guys have played in the ACC. Both guys have played with and against great players, played for tremendous college coaches. They’re not your typical incoming high school freshmen. They’re more battle-tested, which I think will balance out the change that we’ve had over the last year.â€
Sean Miller on Pitt transfer Ryan Luther:
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
F Omar Thielemans
Who he is: A 6-7, 210-pound incoming freshman from Ostend, Belgium
Miller says: “His best days are in front of him. His development over the next couple years will be crucial to our program and his career. He loves the game. He’s played in international competition. Has a very unselfish nature to him. Very good athlete. There’s a lot for us to work with and develop. He’ll be able to impact us on the wing at either position.â€
Sean Miller on Belgian 4-star forward :
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
PG Brandon Williams
Who he is: A 6-2, 185-pound incoming freshman from Encino, California
Miller says: “He’s the one that everybody likes to talk about. We know Brandon better than everybody that we’ve recruited because we recruited him the longest. We feel great that he came back our way. He’s a fantastic kid. Brandon wasn’t on the circuit before his senior year of high school. If he was, he’d be a McDonald’s All-American. I don’t think there are six guards in his class that are better than him. He’s today’s version of a guard in that he can both score and distribute. He’s a great athlete, very explosive. A winner as well.â€
Sean Miller on 4-star point guard Brandon Williams: “He’s today’s version of a guard, he can both score and distribute.â€
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)