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Harvard guard Evan Nelson will finish his career back at home after committing to Arizona on Thursday evening. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound guard has played four seasons for the Crimson and averaged 9.1 points to go with a team-high 2.9 assists this season. Nelson, who played at both Mountain View and Salpointe, made 25 starts and played in all 27 games this year. He had 14 games in which he scored in double figures.

He will have one season of eligibility left with the Wildcats.

Observations spring ball (defense)


Earlier I posted some of my observations from the offensive side of the ball so far this spring. Now, I'll be doing the same but on the defensive side of the football.

Just like the offense, Arizona's defense has new faces on the field and in the coaching staff with Danny Gonzales getting promoted to defensive coordinator. Plus, UA has brought in Joe Salave'a to be the new defensive line coach and associate head coach.

The time during spring has been mostly spent getting guys on and off the field and learning the new defensive scheme and standards of the program under Gonzales. However, we are starting to see guys separate themselves from the rest of the group.


Defensive line

Arizona was solid on the defensive line before injuries slowed the unit down near the end of the season.

The team with Salave'a has brought in talent and depth to the roster with players in the portal. The major impact players have been Tia Savae and Deshawn McKnight in the middle.

Defensive lineman, Chubba Ma'ae has moved to offense, but hasn't seen any reps as he gets healthy.


Defensive scheme

Unlike last season under Duane Akina, I expect Arizona to mix things up on the defensive side of the ball and change formations throughout a game.

Coach Danny Gonzales has thrown multiple defensive looks out on the field and has been rotating guys in and out of the starting unit.


Linebackers

Okay, so Arizona is rock solid with Taye Brown being the top linebacker of the group. However, after that is an issue for the Wildcats.

Transfer linebacker Blake Gotcher is a bust. Gotcher hasn't been with the first, or second team units and has worked mainly with the scout defensive. He looks lost on the field and I just can't see him playing at the D1 level.

However, transfer Max Harris has looked really damn good. I think he is the best of the transfer group. But, Harris still has work to do to solidify himself in the defense.

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Arizona lands a three-star WR for the 2026 class in Caleb Smith out Allen, Texas, who made his decision on Twitter.

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Smith picked the Wildcats over offers from Arkansas and Baylor.

Bobby Wade and the staff are really excited about this commitment and the fact that it strengthens their footing in Texas.

This one comes to somewhat of a surprise as Arizona forward Henri Veesaar has entered the portal becoming the third player to leave the program. Veesaar had a breakout season averaging 9.4 points, 5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 blocks while shooting 59% from the field.

In the NCAA Tournament Veesaar helped the Wildcats get to the Sweet Sixteen and in the three games scored 24 points while collecting 15 rebounds and four assists.

It was thought that Veesaar would be a critical piece to the 2025-26 roster but it looks like plans have changed and Arizona will be losing a player to the portal in this time of an unpredictable transfer era.

I think this is a single that Veesaar probably know where he is going and has been offered an NIL package that Arizona isn't willing to match at this time. It could be a sign of thing to come regarding Carter Bryant as well.

Arizona basketball will have some roster turnover as KJ Lewis has already entered the portal and now center Emmanuel Stephen has made the decision to become the second Wildcat to enter the portal and leave the program. This past season, Stephen played in eight games averaging 2.9 minutes and scored 1.3 points per game while going 5-for-5 from the field.

Out of high school, Stephen was a four-star recruit that chose the Wildcats over offers from Arizona State, Kansas, LSU and Miami as the 102 ranked recruit nationally.

The plan Tommy Lloyd and his coaching staff had for Stephen was to red shirt the 7-foot center and get him ready for college basketball the following year. However, an injury to Motiejus Krivas changed the plans and so did the desire to play forced Lloyd and his staff not to use the redshirt and play him in eight games this season.

Stephen is a very raw prospect that will need developing in order to see any significant playing time in D1 basketball. I could see him going to programs like St. Mary's, San Francisco, New Mexico or any program not in a Power 4 conference.

Arizona guard KJ Lewis has entered the transfer portal. This past season, Lewis had his highs and lows and found himself as an energy guy and defensive master mind off the bench for Tommy Lloyd.

Lewis averaged 10.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists while shooting 42% from the field. He struggled from the 3-point line connecting on 19% of his 69 attempts. That was a 16% decrease from the previous seasons.

Coming out of high school, Lewis was recruited by Texas Tech, Houston, Baylor and SMU before picking Arizona.

I expect Lewis to gain interest from Houston, Texas Tech, UCLA and Baylor. There is a high chance Arizona will face him one, or twice next season if he is of high interest from those schools.

Hey guys, Aidan Wohl was in Jew Jersey and was able to get locker room interviews with a few players. Here is his conversation with guard Caleb Love:

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