Top 5 Arizona Basketball players in the NBA and overseas recruited by Sean Miller

Arizona Basketball has seen a lot of top talent pass through McKale Center and make to the NBA and overseas. Here are my Top 5 recruited by Coach Sean Miller.

In his 10 seasons as head coach for Arizona basketball, head coach Sean Miller has recruited some of the best and have gone on to have remarkable careers in the NBA. Many are still playing in the NBA and making a name for themselves. From Solomon Hill, Derrick Williams, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Nick Johnson, Brandon Ashley, Aaron Gordon, Stanley Johnson, Lauri Markkanen, Allonzo Trier, Rawle Alkins and DeAndre Ayton, Coach Miller recruited elite talent.

Most of players stayed only a couple years, some just one season before making the transition to the NBA. They were that good. Several have gone on to stay with the same team they were drafted and others have had quite the journey with different teams in the NBA and even have played in the G-League and overseas. Some even had signed two-way contracts, turning into a permanent contract with an NBA team.

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Coach Miller recruited these players based on their overall skill level for their position and how well they would fit in with his system. Many were versatile and could play multiple positions for the Wildcats if asked. All of these players who were recruited by Miller and have gone onto play at the next level, have one thing in common, they knew how to bring the crowd to their feet. Whether it was dunks, three point shots or defensive stops, they all rose to the occasion inside McKale Center.

The Top 5 players recruited by Miller and currently playing or have played in in the NBA are based on several different factors: impact they had at Arizona and professionally, consistency and how much they improved.

Here are my Top 5 players:

1. Deandre Ayton – Phoenix Suns
2. Derrick Williams – Bayern Munich
3. Lauri Markkanen – Chicago Bulls
4. Aaron Gordon – Orlando Magic
5. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – Brooklyn Nets

There are of course other players who fit the qualification of making the Top 5, but these are the ones that standout. Ayton at No.1 is no question one of the best players to have ever come out of Arizona. What he did as a seven footer was never seen before. Ayton dominated the painted night in and night out. Just throw the ball to him and let him finish – easy as that!

In his rookie season with the Suns, Ayton earned him self NBA All-Rookie First team and nominated as one of three finalists for Rookie of the Year. He averaged 16.3 points,10.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 71 games played – that’s good!

At No.2, Williams played in nine seasons and six different teams in the NBA. He is currently making a name for himself overseas for Bayern Munich, averaging 13.4 points, 4.2 rebounds in 29 games played. He and Hollis-Jefferson were one of the top defensive players at Arizona. Williams had some memorable blocks inside McKale Center and some monsterous dunks during the regular season and in the NCAA tournament that Wildcat fans will never forget.

At No.3 is Markkanen, like Ayton, was a seven footer at Arizona that had one of the purest looking strokes for a big men that hadn’t been seen before. In his second season with the Bulls, he has established himself as one the premier shooters in the league. Unfortunately, he has been on a team that hasn’t won many games, but hopefully soon he can get some help and take the Bulls into the postseason.

At No.4, Gordon has become a franchise player for the Magic. Recently signed to a long term contract, he has turned into a highlight machine for the Magic. As a Wildcat, Gordon was no stranger to putting up many ESPN Top 10 highlights. At No. 5 is Hollis-Jefferson, who is known for his shimmy at Arizona, defensive and dunking abilities and his tremendous personality in the NBA. He is always having fun, but at the same time giving a110% and even helped the Nets to one of their best seasons yet with a first round playoff appearance.

At Zona Zealots, we have been privileged to see some of the best in the NBA and overseas to have played for Arizona basketball. We look forward to many more joining the ranks of the greats to have played at both the collegiate and professional level. Bear Down Arizona!