Former Arizona Recruit Jalen Hill Announces Commitment to UCLA

NCAA recruiting is a manic-depressive type of activity full of highs and lows for players, fans, and college basketball programs. It’s also full of hope, desire, competition, family, strategy, and much more.

The high highs and low lows of recruiting for the Wildcats fans can be emotional and exciting. It can also be full of let-downs. While happy for each player as the select their school, one can also feel down when someone they wanted to play for their school chooses differently. That’s what happened to this Wildcats fan last night. It comes with the territory.

Last night while trolling Twitter, I came across this tweet from Evan Daniels, Scout.com ‘s Director of Basketball Recruiting, stating that “a source says” 2017 five-star Arizona Wildcats recruits and Compton Magic players Jaylen Hands and Jalen Hill took an unofficial visit to UCLA. Little did I know that for one of them, it was more official than we all thought.

Next stop, Jalen’s timeline.  I went to go find out if Jalen had any public thoughts about his visit, and I found this tweet:

And there is was, confirmation, but not necessarily what I was expecting. I’m not going to lie, I had a lump in my throat. I had gotten to know this great young man personally, and was hoping he would choose be a Wildcat. Obviously wasn’t the right choice for him.

Since the lump hasn’t gone away this morning, I thought this article would wrap a pretty bow around my time writing about the possibilities of Jalen becoming a Wildcat.

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If it wasn’t going to be Arizona, my second choice for Jalen would be to go to UCLA. It’s a wonderful college where someone can earn a fabulous and prestigious education. And they are going to be building a new arena for basketball.

I can say from personal experience that when you go to the UCLA games in Pauley Pavilion, it doesn’t feel like the basketball school it once was. The students and fans do not pack Pauley Pavilion like they do the McKale Center. Who knows, in two years it could be different.

Time will tell.

It’s true Hill is only 15 years old and it’s pretty early in the process to commit. You could draw the conclusion that UCLA is his dream school. After all, I didn’t hear if he visited Arizona officially or unofficially, and he had many other offers as well.

“I feel UCLA is the best school for me all around.” Jalen Hill

His heart must have been set on being a Bruin.  His family can now come watch most of his games because they will be within driving distance. Isn’t this one of the main reasons Ivan Rabb decided on Cal? The Ivan Rabb decision hurt as well, but in the end as a level-headed person, you want what’s right for the player and his family.

Here is Jalen’s official statement according to Eric Hampford of Prep Insiders:

“I feel UCLA is the best school for me all around. The visit really opened my eyes about how great they are and how it’s such a good fit for me. It’s close to family and friends and also has everything I’m looking for in a college, which is good player development and a good coaching staff.”

http://www.usab.com/~/media/2d3fab453daf4759a5a9e44dff945555.ashx

In addition, his Compton Magic teammate, 6’9″ class of 2016 Center Ike Anigbogu (pronounced Eekay) has already committed to UCLA. The Head of the Compton Magic organization, Coach Etop Udo-Ema, also gave me his thought when asked for a statement, “He’s Gotta chance to be special, only 15 years old!”

I asked Jalen’s dad George Hill how the family felt about Arizona program, “Arizona is a great program and we are honored to have been recruited by them. They have a great staff that took the recruiting process seriously. They are very genuine and care about people.”

Well, the Arizona program will hopefully give Jalen some great challenges in a couple years, and maybe Jaylen Hands will be that challenge as a Wildcat. Just putting that vision out into the universe, would love for Arizona to land Jaylen Hands!

Well Jalen, it’s been fun writing about you these last couple of months. Cheers to you, your family and your successful career.

ZonaZealots will be writing about you in 2017 in our Arizona vs. UCLA basketball game recaps!

Beardown Arizona!

Next: Wildcats Athletic Director Greg Byrne: Family Legacy Lives On!