Arizona Basketball: Top 5 recruiting classes under Sean Miller

No.1 – Class of 2016

National rank: 9th

Pac-12 rank: 1st

Players: Rawle Alkins, Kobi Simmons, and Lauri Markkanen

Leading freshman scorer: Lauri Markkanen led all freshman with 15.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game

Choosing the Class of 2016 as the No.1 pick for Arizona Basketball may surprise some, but based on the ranking criteria this class deserves to be at the top. Some may immediately think the Class of 2017 because of Deandre Ayton, but the other freshmen of that class didn’t produce as this one did.

Mr. Savagelife and The Finnisher made up the top two of the top three scorers on the team during the 2016-17 season. Allonzo Trier led all Wildcats with 17.2 points per game. Not a bad trio to have on your team.

Rawle Alkins and Lauri Markkanen both had their own unique style and approach to the game that made them a dangerous duo to handle. Let’s not forget Kobi Simmons, who was a five-star recruit, also produced on offense with fifth in scoring with 8.7 points per game.

What Markkanen was able to accomplish as a 7 footer was remarkable to watch. He had one of the purest looking three-point shots at Arizona and continues to knock down threes for the Chicago Bulls.

Alkins could do it all. He had that maturity of an upperclassman on both ends of the floor during his freshman season, which is one of the things Sean Miller loved about him.

During their freshmen year at Arizona, they help lead their team to become regular season Pac-12 champs and Pac-12 Tournament champs and all the way to the Sweet 16 before losing to Xavier.. Also, both Alkins and Markkanen were named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team.

All three have gone on to have great careers in the NBA so far and they aren’t done yet.

At Zona Zealots, we would like to know what you think about these Top 5 recruiting classes under Arizona Basketball head coach Sean Miller. Agree, disagree, let us know. As always, Bear Down, Arizona!