What I’ll Miss About Stanley Johnson

I knew it was going to happen, all signs pointed to Stanley Johnson declaring for the NBA Draft and he should have, but it still it stung a little bit.

We all knew it would happen, the exodus of our beloved very talented young basketball stars, we just didn’t exactly know who, when or how they would let us know. After all it is their choice, they have all put in their time, followed the rules, attended class and played their hearts out for the University of Arizona and their fans.

We didn’t have to wait long, the NCAA Championship game was played on Monday April 6th, and the next day our first Wildcat Rondae Hollis-Jeffereson announced a press conference to declare. There went the shimmy..gonna miss that shimmy.

Arizona Wildcats

Then Brandon Ashley took to Twitter to declare the next day. There went our big man inside who came back from a huge injury to show the world he still had skills and the passion to play. Two left, Kaleb Tarczewski and Pac 12 Freshman of the Year and Julius Erving Award winner Stanley Johnson.

We were all waiting for the other shoe to drop but it didn’t, two weeks went by and Twitter was ablaze with predictions and articles with commentary on if they would stay or if they would go.

Tonight, the wait was over, well at least for Stanley; its been a day over two weeks and the other shoe just dropped. He just declared for the NBA draft, surprised?

Well, I wasn’t too surprised. After delaying his announcement for the annual basketball awards, then winning one, then waiting for Aaron Gordon to come talk to him after his season was over, and then Damion Lee decided to go to Louisville today, so it all came together and I feel it was the right decision for him.

For Kaleb, I still think that he is staying and finishing out his four years and walking away college degree and a greater chance to get drafted higher in the draft next season. The reason I came to this conclusion is because Coach Sean Miller stated tonight that “Kaleb is close to a conclusion in the next day. At that point it’s a wrap, I think we have everybody on the team.” So if Kaleb is going, why would Coach Miller say that after Kaleb announces his decision the team will be complete and it will be a wrap?

I’ll miss Stanley “The Stanimal” Johnson. I’ll miss his great smile. I’ll miss the way he got excited when his teammates did something special on the court. I’ll miss watching him grow up before our eyes.  I’ll miss watching him play with ease, and his fabulous monster dunks. I’ll especially miss all the selfies he took with Wildcat fans, wishing someday I would be in one.

March 14, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) shoots the basketball against Oregon Ducks guard Jalil Abdul-Bassit (15) during the first half in the championship game of the Pac-12 Conference tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

I did get close after the Sweet Sixteen game at Staples, my daughters bestie split from us after celebrating at Tom’s Urban, and on the way to her car she happened across Stanley and he took a very fun selfie with her. He proved how much he really does adore the fans.

Stanley is a SoCal man, so I am hoping he somehow gets on a Los Angeles team so I can go watch him play and beam that fabulous smile.

I wish Stanley much success and hope the transition is smooth and easy, as I know it wasn’t easy for Derrick Williams and we heard that Aaron Gordon both missed college after they left. It seems both are doing fine now, and Stanley has a strong family bond, promising his mother he would get a business degree proves how much he wants to still make his mom proud.

I am proud of you too Stanley, you have worked very hard for everything that has come to you so far and everything that will be coming to you. Show the world what Wildcats are made of, we want to see your name it the headlines, and we will be connected to you for a lifetime.

Here are some of the things our followers are going to miss (with a comeback from the future):

And one more tweet for you..a classic selfie with Arizona Wildcat WR Cayleb Jones, thank goodness Stanley is okay (he was in a car accident today).

BEARDOWN!

Next: The Stanimal declares for NBA Draft - Ryan's thoughts