Pittsburgh native Sean Miller is hoping another transfer from those parts helps make Arizona a contending team next season.
The transfer of T.J. McConnell from Duquesne in Pittsburgh to Arizona worked out well a few years ago. Now, Miller is counting on a player from his alma mater, Pittsburgh, to also be a success.
Pitt graduate transfer Ryan Luther, a much-needed 6-foot-9-inch power forward for the Wildcats, has committed to Miller’s program, according to Evan Daniels of 247Sports. Luther is Arizona’s third player of the this recruiting class, joining Class of 2018 combo guard Devonaire Doutrive and Belgian small forward Omar Thielemans.
Luther, who is immediately eligible for his lone season at Arizona, and Thielemans visited the campus last weekend. The Wildcats have four scholarship spots remaining and are hopeful of filling at least one of those with a point guard to bolster a rotation that presently would include Alex Barcello, a sophomore-to-be, and Doutrive.
Samford graduate transfer Justin Coleman, a 5-10 point guard who averaged 13.5 points and 6.6 assists per game, will visit Arizona’s campus next Wednesday. SMU, Ohio State and Marquette are some of the other schools trying to land him.
Arizona still has the chance to sign prized point guard recruit Brandon Williams, who committed to Arizona but then de-committed after the ESPN story broke alleging Miller discussed a $100,000 payment with agent runner Christian Dawkins to recruit Deandre Ayton. Miller and Ayton have vehemently denied wrongdoing.
Williams lists Arizona as one of his three finalists along with Oregon and Gonzaga. He visits Gonzaga on April 28.
2018 big man Lukas Kisunas and grad transfers Zach Johnson (FGCU) and Justin Coleman (Samford) all have visits to Arizona coming up in the next several days as the Wildcats are picking up some steam here late
— Matt Moreno (@MattGOAZCATS) April 19, 2018
Zach Johnson, a 6-2 point guard grad transfer from Florida Gulf Coast is also set to visit the campus next week. He averaged 16.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game last season.
Luther, of Gibsonia, Pa., averaged a team-high 12.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game at Pitt last season, but he did not play after January because of a foot injury. Luther also missed 12 games as a junior because of a foot injury as a junior.
His defensive presence, averaging 1.6 steals per game, inside should complement post player Chase Jeter (a Duke transfer eligible next season after sitting out this past season) and sophomore-to-be Ira Lee.
Luther also has a good inside-outside presence who broke Pittsburgh’s record for consecutive field goals made — 15 over a three-game span in December 2016.
Here is an updated look at Arizona’s 2018-19 roster by position:
POINT GUARDS
Alex Barcello, sophomore
Devonaire Doutrive, freshman
SHOOTING GUARDS
Brandon Randolph, sophomore
Dylan Smith, junior
SMALL FORWARDS
Emmanuel Akot, sophomore
Omar Thielemans, freshman
POWER FORWARD
Ira Lee, sophomore
Ryan Luther, senior
CENTER
Chase Jeter, junior
Class of 2018 post player recruit Lukas Kisunas, a Lithunanian who is 6-8 and 235 pounds, is scheduled to visit Arizona’s campus tomorrow and Friday. He is a former UConn commit who ironically also has a scholarship offer from Pittsburgh in addition to Illinois, Creighton, Old Dominion and Purdue.
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