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MOST FIVE-STAR RECRUITS SINCE SEAN MILLER HIRE IN 2009
Source: Scout.com. NT-National titles.
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Allonzo Trier played for Sean Miller with the Team USA U18 national team earlier this summer
Today’s verbal commitment of shooting guard Allonzo Trier of Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep may not be a surprise for a couple of reasons, including the propensity of Arizona Wildcats coach Sean Miller to attract 5-star talent.
If Trier and fellow Class of 2015 commits Ray Smith of Las Vegas (Nev.) High School and Justin Simon of Temecula (Calif.) Valley sign in November, they will increase Miller’s 5-star signees to at least 10 since his hire at Arizona in 2009.
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Trier was also reportedly a heavy Arizona lean after Miller and his staff offered him a scholarship in June before USA Basketball’s U18 trials in Colorado Springs, Colo. The offer to Trier and Simon’s commitment caused Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco guard Tyler Dorsey, a 4-Star talent according to Scout.com, to de-commit.
Kentucky’s John Calipari, who recommended Miller for the Arizona job in 2009 to then-athletic director Jim Livengood, might have to soon look over his shoulder at Miller in terms of attracting 5-star talent.
Arizona’s potential 10 5-star recruits under Miller rank only behind Kentucky’s phenomenal 22 and Duke’s 14 since former Livengood hired Miller late in the process in 2009. Miller did not land his first 5-star recruit until 2011, when point guard Josiah Turner signed.
ARIZONA’S BASKETBALL RECRUITS 2002-2015 RATING
Source: Scout.com. *-Never attended Arizona. **-Lute Olson on leave of absence. ***-Verbal commitments, not yet signed
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The Wildcats are targeting more 5-star recruits and may sign at least two more. Three significant candidates are post players Ivan Rabb of Oakland (Calif.) Bishop O’Dowd, Stephen Zimmerman of Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman and Chance Comanche of Los Angeles View Park Prep.
The potential five in one year will be the most for Arizona in one class since Scout.com tabulated recruiting classes in 2002. Miller attracted three 5-star players in 2012 (Kaleb Tarczewski, Brandon Ashley and Grant Jerrett).
Scout.com recruiting guru Evan Daniels wrote today Trier’s shooting ability and athleticism complements the talents of Smith (an athletic wing) and Simon (a combo guard who mostly plays the point).
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“While Simon and Smith have proved themselves as elite level prospects at their positions, neither are particularly strong long-range shooters,” Daniels wrote. “That’s where Trier comes in. A high-level scorer, Trier stands 6-foot-4 and has a powerfully built frame.
“But don’t let his strong physical features fool you, Trier is quick and can create shot opportunities for himself from three, mid-range and at the rim.”
Just watched some tape on #ArizonaWildcats commit Allonzo Trier @ISO_Zo WOW. Defense Miller's bread & butter but emphasis here… SCORING
— Dave Cooney (@Cooney247) August 3, 2014
Trier also has a scorer’s mentality, confident with his shot mid-range to three-point range, and he is strong with his penetration to the basket.
According to Scout.com, Trier averaged 30.8 points a game during the Nike Peach Jam, including a game high of 42. With the USA Men’s U18 National Team, of which Miller was an assistant coach, Trier was third on the team in scoring at 12.6 points a game. He shot 62-percent from the field in five games.
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.
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