Photo courtesy Chris Hook/Arizona Athletics
In a bit of Arizona Wildcats basketball offseason housecleaning, center Dusan Ristic announced Friday that he will return for his senior season.
Seemed likely, but you never know, so the official word is nice to have. Ristic, from Serbia, could have started earning a paycheck playing basketball overseas if he so wanted.
Here is his announcement via Twitter:
🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/wCj1wIRu04
— Dušan Ristić (@ristic_dusan) April 14, 2017
Ristic averaged 10.9 points and 5.5 rebounds last season, starting 34 of the 36 games in which he played. The 7-footer shot 55.6 percent from the field and showed, as usual, uncommon skill around the basket, but the defensive side of his game still needs work. He’ll never be a major shot-blocker, but he can be more effective as a presence near the rim with strength and positioning.
Coach Sean Miller said in a statement:
“There are very few players that have improved more over a three-year period than he has. This is a tribute to his tireless work ethic, love of the game, and his amazing desire to improve. As a senior, Dusan will be invaluable as a leader, and with continued improvement this summer, he will establish himself as one of the best frontcourt players in the Pac-12.”
Miller noted that Ristic is on pace to graduate next spring.
Ristic, fellow senior Parker Jackson-Cartwright and junior Allonzo Trier, the team’s leading scorer who announced Thursday he was staying, form a nice veteran core for Miller in 2017-18.
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