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Arizona Basketball: Which incoming freshman will have the biggest impact

By David Rosen

TUCSON, AZ - FEBRUARY 8: Members of the Arizona Wildcats are introduced before the start of the college basketball game against the UCLA Bruins at McKale Center on February 8, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. The Bruins beat the Wildcats 82-74. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ - FEBRUARY 8: Members of the Arizona Wildcats are introduced before the start of the college basketball game against the UCLA Bruins at McKale Center on February 8, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. The Bruins beat the Wildcats 82-74. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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The Arizona Wildcat Basketball team will have three incoming freshman joining them next season. Time to see which one will have the biggest impact.

Next season, the Arizona Wildcat Basketball team will have a whole new look. Last season they had NBA talent, size and experience. This season they will have a combination of returners, transfers and incoming freshman that will make up the roster. Having the experience is a key factor to having the biggest impact, but also having raw talent as a freshman is just as important and just as impactful.

This season there are three freshman that make up the team: Brandon Williams, Devonaire Doutrive and Omar “The Secret” Thielemans. Each play different positions and each bring a different set of skills that will bring variety and eventual depth to the Wildcat roster as the season progresses. To say which will have the biggest impact, is one’s opinion and can be debated, but based on the overall talent level and what they bring as whole my choice would be Williams.

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Now, that’s not to say Thielemans and Doutrive won’t make an impact, they certainly will, but not as much as Williams . He was one of the most sought out point guards in the Class of 2018. According to 247 Sports, he is ranked No. 37 overall for his class, the No. 7 point guard and No. 2 in the state of California.

When watching him play, what stands out more then anything else is his explosiveness to the basket, his ball handling skills and the raw talent at the point guard position. Last season the Wildcats were limited at the point guard position with Parker Jackson-Cartwright playing most of the year, with Alex Barcello getting little playing time.

This season will be a whole lot different. Besides Williams, who will most likely be the starting point guard, there is transfer Justin Coleman and Barcello at the one position. If we all learned anything during March Madness, it was that guard play is huge to make a deep run and the Wildcats have that. I truly believe that!

This past high school basketball season, Williams dropped 52 points against Alemany. The variety, the shake n-bake, the jelly, the  point splashes, that first step, Williams he was a one man highlight show! He is going to bring Mckale Center to it’s feet and provided many ESPN Top 10 plays, I guarantee that!

The other two incoming freshman, Thielemans and Doutrive, will add options for Coach Sean Miller in the front and backcourt. Thielemans, who is listed at 6-feet-7-inches, 210 lbs , plays the small forward position. His ball handling skills are solid, can shoot both inside and out and can defend well.

Thielemans has a lot of potential, if not this year, next year he will be a key contributor inside the paint. He will though have an impact on the Wildcat fans right away this season. No doubt about that. His excitement to play for Arizona is apparent and fans love that!

The third incoming freshman, Doutrive, was the first Wildcat commit for the 2018-19 season and Miller is really excited about what he can bring to the team this year. He is listed as a shooting guard, and at 6-foot-5 and 175 lbs, he has the ability to create his own shot or knock down three point shots.

As is the case for the other two freshman, he has really good ball handling skills and is going to fit in well with Miller’s system. He will though be competing for playing time against the likes of Brandon Randolph and Dylan Smith, but don’t be surprised if you see Miller gives this freshman some decent minutes.

Must Read: Arizona Basketball: Will Arizona be the Top Cat in the Pac 12?

At Zona Zealots, we are excited to have three freshman join the Wildcat family and start making an impact right away. Bear Down!

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