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Arizona Basketball recruiting Class of 2017 ranked No. 1

By Mark Barrera

Mar 5, 2016; Tucson, AZ, USA; The Arizona Wildcats student section holds up banners before the start of the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at McKale Center. Arizona won 94-62. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; Tucson, AZ, USA; The Arizona Wildcats student section holds up banners before the start of the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at McKale Center. Arizona won 94-62. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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Arizona Basketball head coach Sean Miller has been heating up the recruiting trail since he arrived in Tucson. He quieted doubters with the 2016 recruiting class, but 2017 is looking even brighter.

Lauri Markannen, Kobi Simmons, and Rawle Alkins headlined the 2016 Arizona Basketball recruiting class for the Arizona Wildcats. This class was one of the best classes Sean Miller has brought to Tucson. The 2017 recruiting class has been heating up lately, especially when Deandre Ayton (California Supreme) committed back on September 6th.

https://twitter.com/RealDeandreAy/status/773309883932303360

Some schools would settle with grabbing the No. 1 recruit in the nation, especially when he’s 7’0″ 245 lbs. But Sean Miller and most great coaches aren’t satisfied with just one great recruit. Instead of settling, Miller has continued his hot streak on the recruiting trail, evidence by the latest commit in Brandon Randolph.

So what happens to your recruiting class when you land 3 of the Top 100 recruits in the nation? Oh, nothing really… just the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation! Here is what Brandon Randolph told Scout’s Evan Daniels about his commitment to Arizona:

“After taking all my visits and obviously they (Arizona) were my last visit, I just had a good feeling going into it. It was a great atmosphere there with great academics and I guess it was just the best fit. It had everything we were looking for.”

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Randolph also discussed not only the platform he’ll play on while in Tucson but also the academics side of the University of Arizona with him and his families attraction to. He’s interested in accounting and finance but knows the program has all of the tools to make him successful both on and off the court.

Having the No. 1 Class in the nation alone is a reason to celebrate, that’s for sure. But what’s even better is seeing the kind of talent Miller is still continuing to go after.

Even though a top 50 guard in Daejon Davis ended up canceling his visit to Tucson after Randolph’s commitment, the Wildcats still hosted a lot of talent over the Red/Blue game weekend. Zona Zealots discussed the visitors for the weekend of festivities, highlighted by 4-star 2017 PF Ira Lee and 5-star 2017 SG Lonnie Walker.

January 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller watches game action against UCLA Bruins during the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller watches game action against UCLA Bruins during the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

The excitement doesn’t stop with Ira Lee. Arizona is currently sitting at the top of the list for Ira Lee, according to many outlets. But we need to also recognize Lonnie Walker: a 5-star SG who is 21st in the nation and #3 of all SG’s in the class. Lee and Walker currently have 247sports crystal ball pointing in the direction of Arizona. This would only solidify the Wildcats at the top.

We also can’t forget the likes of Brandon McCoy, a 6’10” PF/C who is a 5-star and ranked 8th in the nation. The crystal ball is pointing in the direction of Arizona, even with Deandre Ayton already committing. McCoy recently visited Tuscon on October 8th. Overall he liked the visit, also mentioning not seeing a problem with playing next to Ayton.

Currently, the next two recruits just about everyone is predicting to commit to Arizona are Lonnie Walker and Ira Lee. With both of these players also being in the Top 100 in the nation, that #1 spot is starting to look comfortable for the Wildcats. Any doubts about Miller’s recruiting capabilities have been stomped out with the commits this year and last.

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A Final Four visit seems more and more like a reality. National Championship contender talk is gaining speed with no real signs of stopping. We never know what will happen in a season, but one thing is for sure; the Arizona Wildcats have made sure their name is in discussions of the best in the country each year.

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