Where Arizona Basketball Ranks After the NBA Draft Withdrawal Deadline

The college basketball landscape has shifted significantly after the 2024 NBA Draft early entry withdrawal deadline. With players making their decisions, some teams have risen in the ranks, while others have fallen. For the Arizona Wildcats, there was no shortage of moving pieces.

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Caleb Love’s Return

Senior Caleb Love announced his intention to return to Tucson, a crucial piece to the Wildcats’ success last season. Love led the team in points per game (18.0), 3-pointers made (92), field goals (218), and free throws (120), earning him the 2023-24 Pac-12 Player of the Year award.

“The show goes on,” Love said in a statement.

The Fallout

However, there was fallout from Love’s decision. Four-star guard Jamari Phillips and Arizona parted ways, and guard Joson Sanon flipped his commitment to rival Arizona State. Sanon, a five-star recruit, was ranked as the No. 10 shooting guard in the nation according to 247 Sports’ composite.

Where Do the Wildcats Rank Now?

With the roster closer to being settled, where do the Wildcats project now? According to NCAA.com’s Andy Katz, the Wildcats rank No. 21 in his Power 36 rankings. CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish has Arizona at No. 16, despite Love’s return.

College basketball rankings

The Wildcats return four of their top eight scorers, including Love, Jaden Bradley, KJ Lewis, and Motiejus Krivas, from a team that won the Pac-12 regular-season title and secured a No. 2 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Arizona’s top-25 recruiting class, headlined by Oakland transfer Trey Townsend, Tennessee transfer Tobe Awaka, Campbell transfer Anthony Dell’Orso, and top-30 high school prospect Carter Bryant, should help make the program’s transition to the Big 12 go relatively smoothly.

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