Arizona Basketball

New Arizona Wildcats recruit blossoming into elite shooting guard

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RELATED LINK:
— San Diego prospect Trey Kell earns scholarship offer from Arizona Wildcats (TucsonCitizen.com)

LAS VEGAS — My first impression of Arizona basketball recruit Trey Kell, an athletic shooting guard with good size who can handle the ball, was that he reminded me of Khalid Reeves in terms of their body frame.

The both have similar size (and Reeves wore No. 3, Kell’s uniform number with San Diego St. Augustine). Kell, a Class of 2014 prospect, is listed at 6-4 and 195. Reeves was 6-3 and 200 pounds during his playing career with Arizona from 1990-94.

Reeves was a scoring guard whose limited point-guard skills allowed him to play only 271 NBA games over a six-year stretch. At 6-3, he was a “tweener” who did not find his niche in the NBA because he was too small to play shooting guard. He sure could score, however, amassing a school-record 848 points as a senior in 1993-94.

Kell is still growing, heading into his senior season. He could grow another inch or two and become a prototypical shooting guard at 6-5 or 6-6. He plays with a fluid style on the perimeter, but he also has an edge about him. He scrapped for loose balls when his San Diego All-Stars (SDA) Pump ‘N Run team played Nevada Select on Thursday night at Bishop Gorman High School.

San Diego St. Augustine shooting guard Trey Kell caught Sean Miller's eye over the last couple of weeks

San Diego St. Augustine shooting guard Trey Kell caught Sean Miller’s eye over the last couple of weeks

Although he plays primarily at the off-guard position, Kell is vocal like a point guard for SDA. He is the undeniable leader. He handled the point-guard role on a few possessions, but his strength in college will be sticking the three and mixing it up defensively with athleticism to track down long rebounds.

“Arizona has expressed most of their interest in Trey as a scoring shooting guard,” SDA coach Marshawn Cherry told me tonight. “A couple of colleges are recruiting him as a point guard, but Trey is a really good shooter. He can spot up from anywhere. He’s just a good pure shooter.”

Kell won’t need to be a scorer like Reeves to be a success at the collegiate level. His versatility will make him valuable.

“Trey is a gym rat,” Cherry said. “He is always working on his total game.”

How would Kell fit in with the 2014-15 Wildcats?

Nick Johnson would be a senior, if he does not forego his last season for a shot at the NBA. Gabe York would be a junior (if more playing time entices him to stay with the Wildcats) and Elliott Pitts should be a sophomore.

While the shooting guard position might seem loaded, Johnson can always jump to the NBA. With how Grant Jerrett bolted to the NBA after a freshman reserve player, anything is possible and Johnson can become worthy. That leaves York and Pitts, both of whom will get limited minutes behind Johnson and senior Jordin Mayes this season.

A reinforcement like Kell is necessary.

Note: I will attend Kell’s game Saturday morning to get his comments on Arizona’s program and potential recruiting visits.

WILDABOUTAZCATS.net publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes blogs for Lindy’s College Sports, TucsonCitizen.com and Sports Illustrated-sponsored site ZonaZealots.com.

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