Basketball news continues to get lighter and football becomes a greater focus as the Wildcats head into one of the biggest games in the program's recent history.
Basketball:
* Ray McCallum has yet to decide whether or not he's going to sign in the fall or the spring, but Sean Miller's comments on Thursday definitely give the impression that he's not expecting him to sign in the fall.
"I would anticipate Daniel (Bejarano) being the only player that we sign early," Miller said, "And I would certainly anticipate us being able to add to that (2010) class, whether it be getting a commitment throughout the year or signing somebody in the spring.
"I would look for that to happen. If we got the right two then that makes sense for us."
Miller also said that it's important to not just take a player to fill a position, but to make sure the players UA signs are good enough.
"The biggest thing we do in recruiting, and really every program does the same but some do it better than others, is to take the right people," Miller said.
"Not just taking a player because he plays a certain position but just making sure that when we add him to what we do, he's someone who can help us get to where we want to get and do the things we want to do in the future."
* Arizona has had the opportunity to sign some players in the fall, but it doesn't make sense for UA to take most of those guys until the spring. With coaching changes, international players and late developers, a lot could open up and it would be a huge risk for UA to sign someone now when it could do better in April.
Of course, Arizona will continue to seriously pursue McCallum and Doron Lamb, who says he will sign in the spring and officially visit UA at some point.
If C.J. Leslie waits until the spring, Arizona will likely continue to try with him, but that remains a long shot and probably not worth writing much about at this juncture.
I've had some questions on Terrence Jones, but it's very doubtful anything happens for UA to get back involved with him, whether he signs early or late.
As has been said repeatedly, there are several guys behind the scenes Arizona is monitoring and will continue to pursue until the spring when the coaches can really figure out what positions are needed and see who becomes available.
* Miller said on Thursday that the team's starting lineup against NAU will likely be the same as it was against Western New Mexico: Nic Wise, Momo Jones, Brendon Lavender, Jamelle Horne and Kyryl Natyazhko.
* Kevin Parrom has a sprained foot and his status for Sunday is questionable. He didn't practice on Thursday.
Football:
I asked Mike Stoops on Monday what redshirting players he's been impressed by and he picked out a handful.
"Trevor Erno is a guy; we're impressed with Trevor. I think he's got a great future with us," Stoops said. "I think Dewayne Peace is a really skilled wide receiver. The two running backs (Daniel Jenkins and Kylan Butler) are good. I like all the players but those guys, I see them a little bit more.
"I think there's a lot of good players out there that we recruited. Cordarius (Golston) is going to be a good player, Sione (Tuihalamaka) is going to be a good player, Justin Washington; they're all good. I like our younger players."
When asked the same question, Mark Stoops said he doesn't see the redshirting players as much, but identified some younger players who he feels will make an impact sooner than later.
"I think we have a good group of young guys," he said. "I think Jake (Fischer) and R.J. Young are going to be good backers, Adam Hall got some playing time the other night and is doing a great job. Those are some guys who I think are looking bright for the future."
Speaking of Erno, I talked to him after a practice this week and he said he's improved significantly since he got to Tucson and is looking forward to contributing next season.
"I made a great decision coming here," Erno said. "I'm really happy."
* There's been some questions about Johnathan Hollins' status, but Stoops says that he's been improving in practice.
"Johnathan is doing really well," Stoops said. "He had an injury, then the flu, and he's been not healthy most of camp and during the season. (Next season) Johnathan will make a strong run at starting where Earl (Mitchell) started this year."
Football:
* With Jordon James committing to UCLA on Thursday, the Wildcats lost out on their only running back recruit of the 2010 class, meaning that scholarship will now likely go to a wide receiver.
Here's an updated recruiting breakdown:
Quarterback: 1 Total, 0 Left (Matt Brown committed)
Running Back: 0-1 Total
Wide Receiver: 4 Total, 3 Left (Garic Wharton committed)
Offensive Line: 4-5 Total, 0-1 Left (Mickey Baucus, Matt Jakubiec, Carter Lees, Trent Spurgeon committed)
Tight End: 0-1 Total
Defensive Line: 4 Total
Linebacker: 4 Total, 2 Left (Paul Vassallo, Derek Earls committed)
Defensive Back: 4 Total, 2 Left (J.J. Whittaker, Jourdan Grandon committed)
Long Snapper: 1 Total, 0 Left (Chase Gorham committed)
Arizona is expected to give out 23 scholarships, so with 11 current commitments, there's about 12 left to go.
Out of the four defensive line scholarships, I'm guessing at least three go to defensive ends, considering the UA's serious lack of young depth at the position.
After this season, beyond whoever Arizona signs in this class, UA will have just two underclass defensive ends in the program in Jackson Powell (RS FR) and maybe Sione Tuihalamaka (RS FR), who could play either end or tackle.
* An update on the list of official visitors for the Oregon game next Saturday:
Shaydon Akunahttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=93164&Sport=1, LB
Dustin Elisarahttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=93166&Sport=1, LB
Sani Fuimaonohttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=95286&Sport=1, DT
Brandon Mosleyhttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=96986&Sport=1, DE
Keith Sconiershttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=92544&Sport=1, WR
Tyler Stephesonhttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=87877&Sport=1, CB
Demetrius Wrighthttp://rivals.yahoo.com/arizona/football/recruiting/player-Demetrius-Wright-91352, S
This list should definitely expand in the next week.
Jason Scheer's weekly recruiting update:
* The big news of the week is the commitment of 6-foot-1, 185-pound Avondale (Ariz.) athlete Jourdan Grandonhttp://rivals.yahoo.com/arizona/football/recruiting/player-Jourdon-Grandon-97972.
At one time, Grandon’s recruitment seemed to be between Arizona State and Oregon State, but the Wildcats did a very good job at convincing Grandon that the UA was the right spot for him.
"This was the first time I could kind of hang out with the guys and they way it was around them confirmed how I felt about the school," Grandon said of his visit. "I was just able to see myself being around the program for five years."
* 6-foot-3, 175-pound Oak Lawn (Ill.) Richards wide receiver Keith Sconiershttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=92544 plans to visit Arizona for the Oregon game, as he attempts to narrow it down.
"I still get calls and I hear from some different schools all the time,” he tells EdgyTim.com. “I'm just really locked into three schools and I'm just staying focused on those three for now.
“I want to get out and make a few official visits before I make my final decision. I'm looking the hardest these days at Arizona, Louisville and Michigan State. I have offers from both Louisville and Arizona and Michigan State still seems very interested."
Sconiers has been talking to Arizona for quite some time and it will be interesting to see what direction his recruitment goes once he steps on campus.
* Months ago it seemed that 6-foot-4, 280-pound Salt Lake City Brighton defensive tackle Ricky Heimulihttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=81604 had narrowed down his school choices.
Now, however, it seems he has opened things back up a bit and is hoping to finalize his list once again.
"I'm not going to lie," Heimuli tells Rivals.com. "All these phone calls are stressing me out. I'm hoping to sit down think about it and talk to my parents and family what they think so hopefully soon I can come out with a top list."
As of now, Heimuli claims that he does not know which schools will make the list, thus you can expect Arizona to continue to recruit him.
* 6-foot-3, 192-pound Corona (Calif.) Eleanor Roosevelt receiver Austin Hillhttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=68339 recently took a visit to Nebraska and enjoyed it.
"I mean just everything was awesome, everything," Hill told HuskersIllustrated.com. "The whole game, I was really impressed. I didn't come into it thinking that way (about committing). I mean everything stacks up pretty well. Nebraska is probably one of the top."
With that being said, Arizona is still definitely in the picture and Hill will take a visit for the Oregon game. Northwestern is also in the picture, but the thought is that it will come down to the UA and Nebraska.
* 5-foot-11, 180-pound Joliet (Ill.) Plainfield South running back Dondre Adamshttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=102317 is a player from the 2011 class that UA fans should keep an eye one.
“Besides Notre Dame I'm getting a ton of mail from Iowa, Wisconsin, Kansas, Arizona, Cincinnati, TCU, Minnesota, Duke, Purdue and several other Big Ten schools,” he tells EdgyTim.com. “I've been invited to several different junior day events and I'm hoping to get out to more of those events soon."
It remains to be seen just how hard Adams will be recruited by the Wildcats but considering he is in Illinois and obviously a solid player, Adams is emerging as a player to watch.
* 6-foot-1, 201-pound Corona (Calif.) defensive back Demetrius Wright is winding down his recruitment.
Wright will be visiting for the Oregon game and will be taking a visit to USC the week after.
The Trojans are thought to be in good shape and Wright is on record as saying that USC is his dream school. With that being said, he has yet to give the Trojans his verbal and thus there is an opportunity to other schools to get in there.
* Arizona has offered 2012 6-foot-6, 235-pound Tempe (Ariz.) Corona del Sol offensive lineman Andrus Peathttp://rivals.yahoo.com/arizona/football/recruiting/player-Andrus-Peat-105073.
Andrus’ brother Todd is one of the better players in the west in 2011 and Andrus is good enough in his own right. Expect Arizona to recruit both players hard, as a package deal would be a major coup for any school.
* 6-foot-3, 210-pound Kapolei (Haw.) linebacker Shaydon Akunahttp://rivals.yahoo.com/arizona/football/recruiting/player-Shaydon-Akuna-93164 has been offered by Florida State, which likely complicates things a bit for Arizona.
While the UA is not the favorite by any means, FSU is a school that Akuna truly wanted an offer from. He will still visit Tucson, but Arizona now has one more school that is seriously competing for the four-star linebacker.
"It is going to be about the coaching staff that are there, if I can understand them and all that," Akuna tells Warchant.com. "It is also going to come down to the school and if I am comfortable with being there. I don't want to go to a school that I am not comfortable with, that I don't feel at home at."
* 6-foot-2, 225-pound Fontana (Calif.) Kaiser linebacker Josh Shirleyhttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=81108 visited Arizona this past weekend and enjoyed what he saw.
"The visit to Arizona was good," he said. "I knew some of the players and have worked out with them before from where I am, so it was good to know a couple guys."
Landing Shirley is definitely a tall task, but Arizona seems to have gained some ground. It would still be a surprise if he left Los Angeles, but stranger things have happened.
* 6-foot-1, 225-pound Culver City (Calif.) linebacker Victor Burnetthttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=92117 seems to have loved his visit to Arizona.
"It was great," Burnett said. "I ate a lot, I saw all the facilities, met with the strength and conditioning coaches and met with the players. My host was Trevor Erno. The players showed us a real good time, we saw the dorms and just saw everything at Arizona in depth."
Burnett told us that he is going to be back for the Oregon game, which obviously bodes well for the Wildcats. While he has plans to take two more visits, the UA is definitely doing well with him.
* 6-foot-0, 196-pound Chula Vista (Calif.) Eastlake safety Tony Jeffersonhttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=87951 had a successful visit to Arizona.
"It was fun," Jefferson said. "The coaching style is important and they have a really good coaching style. Their defense flies around and I was real impressed by their weight training coach, coach (Corey) Edmond. The student section was just crazy.”
Jefferson is likely to stay at UCLA or go to Oklahoma, although Arizona can now use the official visit in recruiting him.
Basketball:
* Ray McCallum has yet to decide whether or not he's going to sign in the fall or the spring, but Sean Miller's comments on Thursday definitely give the impression that he's not expecting him to sign in the fall.
"I would anticipate Daniel (Bejarano) being the only player that we sign early," Miller said, "And I would certainly anticipate us being able to add to that (2010) class, whether it be getting a commitment throughout the year or signing somebody in the spring.
"I would look for that to happen. If we got the right two then that makes sense for us."
Miller also said that it's important to not just take a player to fill a position, but to make sure the players UA signs are good enough.
"The biggest thing we do in recruiting, and really every program does the same but some do it better than others, is to take the right people," Miller said.
"Not just taking a player because he plays a certain position but just making sure that when we add him to what we do, he's someone who can help us get to where we want to get and do the things we want to do in the future."
* Arizona has had the opportunity to sign some players in the fall, but it doesn't make sense for UA to take most of those guys until the spring. With coaching changes, international players and late developers, a lot could open up and it would be a huge risk for UA to sign someone now when it could do better in April.
Of course, Arizona will continue to seriously pursue McCallum and Doron Lamb, who says he will sign in the spring and officially visit UA at some point.
If C.J. Leslie waits until the spring, Arizona will likely continue to try with him, but that remains a long shot and probably not worth writing much about at this juncture.
I've had some questions on Terrence Jones, but it's very doubtful anything happens for UA to get back involved with him, whether he signs early or late.
As has been said repeatedly, there are several guys behind the scenes Arizona is monitoring and will continue to pursue until the spring when the coaches can really figure out what positions are needed and see who becomes available.
* Miller said on Thursday that the team's starting lineup against NAU will likely be the same as it was against Western New Mexico: Nic Wise, Momo Jones, Brendon Lavender, Jamelle Horne and Kyryl Natyazhko.
* Kevin Parrom has a sprained foot and his status for Sunday is questionable. He didn't practice on Thursday.
Football:
I asked Mike Stoops on Monday what redshirting players he's been impressed by and he picked out a handful.
"Trevor Erno is a guy; we're impressed with Trevor. I think he's got a great future with us," Stoops said. "I think Dewayne Peace is a really skilled wide receiver. The two running backs (Daniel Jenkins and Kylan Butler) are good. I like all the players but those guys, I see them a little bit more.
"I think there's a lot of good players out there that we recruited. Cordarius (Golston) is going to be a good player, Sione (Tuihalamaka) is going to be a good player, Justin Washington; they're all good. I like our younger players."
When asked the same question, Mark Stoops said he doesn't see the redshirting players as much, but identified some younger players who he feels will make an impact sooner than later.
"I think we have a good group of young guys," he said. "I think Jake (Fischer) and R.J. Young are going to be good backers, Adam Hall got some playing time the other night and is doing a great job. Those are some guys who I think are looking bright for the future."
Speaking of Erno, I talked to him after a practice this week and he said he's improved significantly since he got to Tucson and is looking forward to contributing next season.
"I made a great decision coming here," Erno said. "I'm really happy."
* There's been some questions about Johnathan Hollins' status, but Stoops says that he's been improving in practice.
"Johnathan is doing really well," Stoops said. "He had an injury, then the flu, and he's been not healthy most of camp and during the season. (Next season) Johnathan will make a strong run at starting where Earl (Mitchell) started this year."
Football:
* With Jordon James committing to UCLA on Thursday, the Wildcats lost out on their only running back recruit of the 2010 class, meaning that scholarship will now likely go to a wide receiver.
Here's an updated recruiting breakdown:
Quarterback: 1 Total, 0 Left (Matt Brown committed)
Running Back: 0-1 Total
Wide Receiver: 4 Total, 3 Left (Garic Wharton committed)
Offensive Line: 4-5 Total, 0-1 Left (Mickey Baucus, Matt Jakubiec, Carter Lees, Trent Spurgeon committed)
Tight End: 0-1 Total
Defensive Line: 4 Total
Linebacker: 4 Total, 2 Left (Paul Vassallo, Derek Earls committed)
Defensive Back: 4 Total, 2 Left (J.J. Whittaker, Jourdan Grandon committed)
Long Snapper: 1 Total, 0 Left (Chase Gorham committed)
Arizona is expected to give out 23 scholarships, so with 11 current commitments, there's about 12 left to go.
Out of the four defensive line scholarships, I'm guessing at least three go to defensive ends, considering the UA's serious lack of young depth at the position.
After this season, beyond whoever Arizona signs in this class, UA will have just two underclass defensive ends in the program in Jackson Powell (RS FR) and maybe Sione Tuihalamaka (RS FR), who could play either end or tackle.
* An update on the list of official visitors for the Oregon game next Saturday:
Shaydon Akunahttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=93164&Sport=1, LB
Dustin Elisarahttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=93166&Sport=1, LB
Sani Fuimaonohttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=95286&Sport=1, DT
Brandon Mosleyhttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=96986&Sport=1, DE
Keith Sconiershttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=92544&Sport=1, WR
Tyler Stephesonhttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=87877&Sport=1, CB
Demetrius Wrighthttp://rivals.yahoo.com/arizona/football/recruiting/player-Demetrius-Wright-91352, S
This list should definitely expand in the next week.
Jason Scheer's weekly recruiting update:
* The big news of the week is the commitment of 6-foot-1, 185-pound Avondale (Ariz.) athlete Jourdan Grandonhttp://rivals.yahoo.com/arizona/football/recruiting/player-Jourdon-Grandon-97972.
At one time, Grandon’s recruitment seemed to be between Arizona State and Oregon State, but the Wildcats did a very good job at convincing Grandon that the UA was the right spot for him.
"This was the first time I could kind of hang out with the guys and they way it was around them confirmed how I felt about the school," Grandon said of his visit. "I was just able to see myself being around the program for five years."
* 6-foot-3, 175-pound Oak Lawn (Ill.) Richards wide receiver Keith Sconiershttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=92544 plans to visit Arizona for the Oregon game, as he attempts to narrow it down.
"I still get calls and I hear from some different schools all the time,” he tells EdgyTim.com. “I'm just really locked into three schools and I'm just staying focused on those three for now.
“I want to get out and make a few official visits before I make my final decision. I'm looking the hardest these days at Arizona, Louisville and Michigan State. I have offers from both Louisville and Arizona and Michigan State still seems very interested."
Sconiers has been talking to Arizona for quite some time and it will be interesting to see what direction his recruitment goes once he steps on campus.
* Months ago it seemed that 6-foot-4, 280-pound Salt Lake City Brighton defensive tackle Ricky Heimulihttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=81604 had narrowed down his school choices.
Now, however, it seems he has opened things back up a bit and is hoping to finalize his list once again.
"I'm not going to lie," Heimuli tells Rivals.com. "All these phone calls are stressing me out. I'm hoping to sit down think about it and talk to my parents and family what they think so hopefully soon I can come out with a top list."
As of now, Heimuli claims that he does not know which schools will make the list, thus you can expect Arizona to continue to recruit him.
* 6-foot-3, 192-pound Corona (Calif.) Eleanor Roosevelt receiver Austin Hillhttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=68339 recently took a visit to Nebraska and enjoyed it.
"I mean just everything was awesome, everything," Hill told HuskersIllustrated.com. "The whole game, I was really impressed. I didn't come into it thinking that way (about committing). I mean everything stacks up pretty well. Nebraska is probably one of the top."
With that being said, Arizona is still definitely in the picture and Hill will take a visit for the Oregon game. Northwestern is also in the picture, but the thought is that it will come down to the UA and Nebraska.
* 5-foot-11, 180-pound Joliet (Ill.) Plainfield South running back Dondre Adamshttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=102317 is a player from the 2011 class that UA fans should keep an eye one.
“Besides Notre Dame I'm getting a ton of mail from Iowa, Wisconsin, Kansas, Arizona, Cincinnati, TCU, Minnesota, Duke, Purdue and several other Big Ten schools,” he tells EdgyTim.com. “I've been invited to several different junior day events and I'm hoping to get out to more of those events soon."
It remains to be seen just how hard Adams will be recruited by the Wildcats but considering he is in Illinois and obviously a solid player, Adams is emerging as a player to watch.
* 6-foot-1, 201-pound Corona (Calif.) defensive back Demetrius Wright is winding down his recruitment.
Wright will be visiting for the Oregon game and will be taking a visit to USC the week after.
The Trojans are thought to be in good shape and Wright is on record as saying that USC is his dream school. With that being said, he has yet to give the Trojans his verbal and thus there is an opportunity to other schools to get in there.
* Arizona has offered 2012 6-foot-6, 235-pound Tempe (Ariz.) Corona del Sol offensive lineman Andrus Peathttp://rivals.yahoo.com/arizona/football/recruiting/player-Andrus-Peat-105073.
Andrus’ brother Todd is one of the better players in the west in 2011 and Andrus is good enough in his own right. Expect Arizona to recruit both players hard, as a package deal would be a major coup for any school.
* 6-foot-3, 210-pound Kapolei (Haw.) linebacker Shaydon Akunahttp://rivals.yahoo.com/arizona/football/recruiting/player-Shaydon-Akuna-93164 has been offered by Florida State, which likely complicates things a bit for Arizona.
While the UA is not the favorite by any means, FSU is a school that Akuna truly wanted an offer from. He will still visit Tucson, but Arizona now has one more school that is seriously competing for the four-star linebacker.
"It is going to be about the coaching staff that are there, if I can understand them and all that," Akuna tells Warchant.com. "It is also going to come down to the school and if I am comfortable with being there. I don't want to go to a school that I am not comfortable with, that I don't feel at home at."
* 6-foot-2, 225-pound Fontana (Calif.) Kaiser linebacker Josh Shirleyhttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=81108 visited Arizona this past weekend and enjoyed what he saw.
"The visit to Arizona was good," he said. "I knew some of the players and have worked out with them before from where I am, so it was good to know a couple guys."
Landing Shirley is definitely a tall task, but Arizona seems to have gained some ground. It would still be a surprise if he left Los Angeles, but stranger things have happened.
* 6-foot-1, 225-pound Culver City (Calif.) linebacker Victor Burnetthttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=92117 seems to have loved his visit to Arizona.
"It was great," Burnett said. "I ate a lot, I saw all the facilities, met with the strength and conditioning coaches and met with the players. My host was Trevor Erno. The players showed us a real good time, we saw the dorms and just saw everything at Arizona in depth."
Burnett told us that he is going to be back for the Oregon game, which obviously bodes well for the Wildcats. While he has plans to take two more visits, the UA is definitely doing well with him.
* 6-foot-0, 196-pound Chula Vista (Calif.) Eastlake safety Tony Jeffersonhttp://arizona.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=87951 had a successful visit to Arizona.
"It was fun," Jefferson said. "The coaching style is important and they have a really good coaching style. Their defense flies around and I was real impressed by their weight training coach, coach (Corey) Edmond. The student section was just crazy.”
Jefferson is likely to stay at UCLA or go to Oklahoma, although Arizona can now use the official visit in recruiting him.
