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Arizona’s Class of 2016 running back recruit Sean Riley of Harbor City (Calif.) Narbonne High School becomes the fourth prospect in his class to commit to Rich Rodriguez and Arizona. He was offered a scholarship earlier in the day along with Keyshawn Johnson Jr., son of the former NFL receiver who was in Tucson with his 7-on-7 program.
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Xavier coach Chris Mack to Jim Rome about his “mentor” Sean Miller: “A guy that’s been really good to me and my family, we spent a lot of time recruiting together, coaching together, he’s taught me an awful lot. And so even though our teams, our players won’t have connections to their players and vice versa it’s going to be hard just from a personal standpoint because there’s so many people on my staff and Sean’s staff and addition to our families, that you hate to be put in this position, but it is what it is.”
Xavier head coach Chris Mack admits it's going to be tough going up against his former boss, Sean Miller: http://t.co/epLlNQ3IYt
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) March 24, 2015
One of the highlights of the T.J. McConnell interview with Rome was McConnell changing his mind when comparing himself to Miller and Damon Stoudamire. “Coach (Miller) has still got it,” McConnell told Rome. “And Coach Stoudamire has still got it, too. (But) I’d have to say I’m the third best out of the three. … You know what? I have to change my mind. I have to be first on that list. I’m not sure about those two. They can duke it out. I certainly belong first on that list.” …
T.J. McConnell on the show right now on @CBSSportsRadio
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) March 23, 2015
The only loss for Miller was against a Final Four team, Wisconsin, a year ago.
.@UACoachMiller is 13-1 in the NCAA Tournament as a higher seed, the best record in the history of the event. #APlayersProgram
— Arizona Basketball (@APlayersProgram) March 23, 2015
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Site founder and award-winning sports journalist Javier Morales has published his first e-book, “The Highest Form of Living”, a fiction piece about a young man who overcomes a troubled upbringing without his lost father and wayward mother through basketball and hope. His hope is realized through the sport he loves. Basketball enables him to get past his fears. His experience on the court indirectly brings him closer to his parents in a unique, heartfelt way. Please order it at Amazon (for only $4.99) by clicking on the photo:
Arizona safety Paul Magloire gets his photo opportunity with Johnson.
Got to meet the legendary Keyshawn Johnson today ! #ThrowTheFade pic.twitter.com/iYSQfKZEr2
— Paul Magloire ™‼️‼️ (@P_MAGLOIRE) March 23, 2015
Another Class of 2016 commit, Gardena (Calif) Serra quarterback Khalil Tate, shows his appreciation of Arizona on his unofficial visit.
Unofficial visit to my future home Arizona #BearDown pic.twitter.com/oxFi3r4lOh
— #KhalilTate (@KhalilDTN) March 24, 2015
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The final analysis of Mike Schmitz of DraftExpress.com concerning Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s defense on Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell: “The OSU freshman scored only one bucket on RHJ but McConnell & (Kaleb) Tarczewski were just as responsible for Russell’s struggles.”
D'Angelo Russell vs Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 2015 Matchup Video: http://t.co/DZu8xADpRM via @YouTube
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) March 23, 2015
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Xavier’s Matt Stainbrook vs. Arizona’s Kaleb Tarczewski would also be a great challenge in the classroom. Stainbrook is working on his MBA and Tarczewski has been accepted into Arizona’s prestigious Eller College of Management.
Meet Matt Stainbrook, the Uber-driving basketball star who's taking Xavier to the Sweet 16: http://t.co/Nrl9gCCCJs pic.twitter.com/7LAuYQGz1o
— Mashable (@mashable) March 23, 2015
Hey, if the coach’s wife is enamored with your work ethic, the coach sure must be. Gabe York’s performance Saturday against Ohio State “made those could-they-beat-Kentucky wheels spin a little faster,” Washington Post’s Adam Kilgore writes. “York came off the bench and drained 5 of 9 three-pointers, which accounted for 15 of his team-high 19 points. The rest of his teammates shot 2-of-10 from three.”
Arizona, Kentucky and the importance of Gabe York http://t.co/Tnuf2IWOQR Gabe puts in the work, striving to be his best!
— Amy Miller (@abballwidow) March 22, 2015
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You can no longer say Arizona is the only Pac-12 team without a Power 5 conference opponent through 2020.
#ArizonaWildcats set football series with Texas Tech, via @McMurphyESPN: http://t.co/N8kUvZYhKT
— Anthony Gimino (@AGWildcatReport) March 23, 2015
A look at #ArizonaWildcats & #Pac12 scheduling of Power 5 conference opponents w/UA adding Texas Tech in 2019 & 2020 http://t.co/H57n7IaczI
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 24, 2015
People tend to forget about the pressure these 16- and 17-year-olds face to make one of the most important decisions in their life.
People don't realize how much stress is off a student-athletes back once they commit early, so much stress relived
— #KhalilTate (@KhalilDTN) March 24, 2015
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He has also written articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.