Pelle Larsson is making a smart move declaring as an underclassmen for the NBA draft.
By declaring for the draft, Larsson can receive feedback from NBA scouts and attend pre-draft workouts. He might participate in the NBA combine or G League Elite Camp in Chicago next month and maintain his eligibility at Arizona.
The deadline to withdraw his name from the draft and maintain his college eligibility is May 31.
Larsson and teammate Azuolas Tubelis are among 242 underclassmen who have declared for the 2023 NBA Draft.
Larsson, a 6-foot-5 junior wing, reportedly will maintain his college eligibility and will likely rejoin the Wildcats.
He is not listed as among ESPN’s Top 100 draft prospects.
Tubelis is rated low at No. 67, but he is hoping to move up after taking part in the NBA combine.
Larsson averaged 9.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game last season with 18 starts before playing the last half of the season as a top reserve. In 2021-22, after transferring from Utah, Larsson was selected the Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year.
Larsson, who often defended the opponent’s top-scoring guard or wing, shot 47.2 percent from the field, 35.6 percent from 3-point range. He was especially effective at the free-throw line, shooting 83.5 percent.
TALIYAH HENDERSON OFFERED BY ADIA BARNES
Salpointe Class of 2025 standout Taliyah Henderson, who has the skillset that fits the type of player Adia Barnes likes to recruit, was offered a scholarship by Barnes on Tuesday.
Henderson is a 6-foot-1 talent who can defend all five positions and is able to bring the ball up the court.
Thank you to @AdiaBarnes and the @ArizonaWBB for this amazing opportunity ! #stillworking #substanceoverhype#wearesupreme @AZSupremeHoops @JeremyAzSupreme @SalpointeB pic.twitter.com/iqenu27eGB
— Taliyah Henderson (@taliyah_hend3) April 25, 2023
Henderson also has offers from Utah, ASU, BYU, San Diego, Florida State, Grand Canyon and Utah Valley. She has garnered interest from Oregon, Iowa, Illinois, Washington, Washington State, UNLV and Idaho State.
Henderson was interviewed by AllSportsTucson.com after she played at McKale Center for the first time on Jan. 16, when Salpointe beat Sahuaro in the MLK Classic. She mentioned that the experience was “awesome” after following Arizona since she was “4 or 5” years old.
“I’ve been watching this team (Arizona) play forever and I love them a lot,” she said. “To be able to play on that same court as them is amazing.”
Henderson is playing during the AAU circuit this summer for AZ Supreme Blue, coached by former Sabino coaches Jaamal Rhodes and Jeremy Daniels.
Other players from Southern Arizona on that team include Pusch Ridge freshman guard Noelle Mulvanny, Catalina Foothills sophomore guard Clara-Mae Hrouch, Pueblo freshman guard America Cazares, Mountain View sophomore forward Makayla Carter and Salpointe sophomore forward Hannah Williams.
WHEELER & WILLIS CONDUCTING CLINICS
Former Arizona standouts Desire Wheeler and Felecity Willis are conducting four weekly clinics starting May 6 for kids ages 7-9 at Pima College’s West Gym.
The other clinics are for youths ages 10-14 on May 13, May 20 and May 27.
The cost for each clinic that runs from 3-6 p.m. is $40.
Wheeler, the TUSD director of athletics, was the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 2002 and Honorable Mention All-American in 2005. Wheeler was also a three-time All-Pac-10 selection and her name is on the Ring of Honor in McKale Center.
Willis has become a Division I basketball referee who played softball and basketball at Arizona for coaching legends Mike Candrea and Joan Bonvicini, respectively.
She was a two-time All-Pac-10 selection in basketball.
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator five years ago and is presently a special education teacher at Gallego Fine Arts Intermediate in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
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