I know there have been some questions about it, so to get you caught up here is a run down of notable recruits and their expected visit dates along with where things currently stand in their recruitments.
Josh Jackson: At this point there is going to be plenty of discussions about where Arizona's top target and the No. 1 overall prospect will land. Some of it is misleading and some of it there is some truth to. This week the hot rumor has Jackson going Michigan State along with Miles Bridges who will decide Saturday. If Bridges does indeed go with Michigan State (the pair are close) that could mean some trouble for Arizona. As of now Arizona is still in a good spot with Jackson who has not had much to say about his recruitment, visits or timeline. As of now the sense is that he will make an early decision, but he keeps things close to the vest. (Visit date: No planned visit as of now)
Lauri Markkanen: As of this stage the 6-10 recruit from Finland is Arizona's clearest shot at getting what would be considered an elite prospect. Markkanen recently had his in-home visits with his three finalists Arizona, North Carolina and Utah. Next up will be his official visits. Arizona will get him last (Oct. 16-17) and that has given the Wildcats some confidence. The word right now is that there could be some people on his side who are swaying him away from UNC, but either way the Wildcats have a great shot here.
These upcoming visits are going to be important because a lot could change when he gets to the US for those trips and you just never know if one campus might make more sense to him once he arrives. For now the plan is to decide shortly after those trips and sign in the early period. (Visit date: Oct. 16-17)
Andrew Jones: The four-star guard was a big priority for Arizona over the summer and he has continued to be one of the prospects the Wildcats want to add in the 2016 class. Jones has already visited Arizona a couple times, and him coming away without committing from his second visit is a little concerning for UA. At this point the Wildcats are in a good spot with the Texas-based guard, but it is sounding more and more like he will take his time and not rush the process. That is not a great sign for Arizona, but that doesn't mean he won't eventually make his way to Tucson.
For now though the Wildcats will have to continue waiting (Visit date: Sept. 3)
Mitch Lightfoot: Arizona continues to look like the favorite for the in-state big man and one-time Tucson resident now living in Gilbert. Lightfoot had a good in-home visit with the Wildcats recently and he continues to go through the process. Things should be wrapped up in the near future with Lightfoot as Arizona gets the last of his official visits. Once things opened up in the front court with TJ Leaf decommitting that opened things up even more for Lightfoot and all indications are that the three-star big man is likely headed to the 'Cats.
Kansas has certainly started to make a better case for itself as of late after a good in-home visit and recent official trip, but Arizona remains in a great position going into what will be an early decision. (Visit date: Oct. 10)
De'Aaron Fox: The five-star point guard is getting close to making his decision as well. Fox put on a show this summer on the travel circuit and it earned him a Kentucky offer among others. Arizona really put some effort into him over the summer and it has continued to make its push. Right now Kentucky is likely his destination, but he is in the process of taking visits and seeing what his other options have to offer. The Wildcats went in-home with Fox earlier this month and he finally decided to schedule his remaining official visit with Arizona.
UA has some work to do with this one, but getting him out on an official is a good sign of progress. Arizona's success with getting players to the NBA recently is the big draw for Fox who plans to be a one-and-done. (Visit date: Nov. 6-8)
De'Ron Davis: At this stage the four-star power forward's recruitment has taken all kinds of turns and somehow it is likely to end up at the same result that many anticipated from the beginning. As of now the expectation is that the Colorado-based power forward will end up at Indiana the school that has been recruiting him the longest and he has maintained conversations with throughout his recruitment. At this point he currently has a top six of Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State and Texas.
He has already used an official to Indiana and he will use two more on visits to Mississippi State and Arizona. Davis is not as high of a priority as some others in the class, but if the timing works right it could start to move him up the list if other options fall through. For now Indiana is in the driver's seat. (Visit date: Oct. 23-25)
So those are some of the main names to keep an eye on as things continue here in the 2016 recruiting cycle. There is a long way to go right now so the class could take many turns, but going into October that is where things stand.
Josh Jackson: At this point there is going to be plenty of discussions about where Arizona's top target and the No. 1 overall prospect will land. Some of it is misleading and some of it there is some truth to. This week the hot rumor has Jackson going Michigan State along with Miles Bridges who will decide Saturday. If Bridges does indeed go with Michigan State (the pair are close) that could mean some trouble for Arizona. As of now Arizona is still in a good spot with Jackson who has not had much to say about his recruitment, visits or timeline. As of now the sense is that he will make an early decision, but he keeps things close to the vest. (Visit date: No planned visit as of now)
Lauri Markkanen: As of this stage the 6-10 recruit from Finland is Arizona's clearest shot at getting what would be considered an elite prospect. Markkanen recently had his in-home visits with his three finalists Arizona, North Carolina and Utah. Next up will be his official visits. Arizona will get him last (Oct. 16-17) and that has given the Wildcats some confidence. The word right now is that there could be some people on his side who are swaying him away from UNC, but either way the Wildcats have a great shot here.
These upcoming visits are going to be important because a lot could change when he gets to the US for those trips and you just never know if one campus might make more sense to him once he arrives. For now the plan is to decide shortly after those trips and sign in the early period. (Visit date: Oct. 16-17)
Andrew Jones: The four-star guard was a big priority for Arizona over the summer and he has continued to be one of the prospects the Wildcats want to add in the 2016 class. Jones has already visited Arizona a couple times, and him coming away without committing from his second visit is a little concerning for UA. At this point the Wildcats are in a good spot with the Texas-based guard, but it is sounding more and more like he will take his time and not rush the process. That is not a great sign for Arizona, but that doesn't mean he won't eventually make his way to Tucson.
For now though the Wildcats will have to continue waiting (Visit date: Sept. 3)
Mitch Lightfoot: Arizona continues to look like the favorite for the in-state big man and one-time Tucson resident now living in Gilbert. Lightfoot had a good in-home visit with the Wildcats recently and he continues to go through the process. Things should be wrapped up in the near future with Lightfoot as Arizona gets the last of his official visits. Once things opened up in the front court with TJ Leaf decommitting that opened things up even more for Lightfoot and all indications are that the three-star big man is likely headed to the 'Cats.
Kansas has certainly started to make a better case for itself as of late after a good in-home visit and recent official trip, but Arizona remains in a great position going into what will be an early decision. (Visit date: Oct. 10)
De'Aaron Fox: The five-star point guard is getting close to making his decision as well. Fox put on a show this summer on the travel circuit and it earned him a Kentucky offer among others. Arizona really put some effort into him over the summer and it has continued to make its push. Right now Kentucky is likely his destination, but he is in the process of taking visits and seeing what his other options have to offer. The Wildcats went in-home with Fox earlier this month and he finally decided to schedule his remaining official visit with Arizona.
UA has some work to do with this one, but getting him out on an official is a good sign of progress. Arizona's success with getting players to the NBA recently is the big draw for Fox who plans to be a one-and-done. (Visit date: Nov. 6-8)
De'Ron Davis: At this stage the four-star power forward's recruitment has taken all kinds of turns and somehow it is likely to end up at the same result that many anticipated from the beginning. As of now the expectation is that the Colorado-based power forward will end up at Indiana the school that has been recruiting him the longest and he has maintained conversations with throughout his recruitment. At this point he currently has a top six of Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State and Texas.
He has already used an official to Indiana and he will use two more on visits to Mississippi State and Arizona. Davis is not as high of a priority as some others in the class, but if the timing works right it could start to move him up the list if other options fall through. For now Indiana is in the driver's seat. (Visit date: Oct. 23-25)
So those are some of the main names to keep an eye on as things continue here in the 2016 recruiting cycle. There is a long way to go right now so the class could take many turns, but going into October that is where things stand.
