Warriors trade Andre Iguodala to Memphis Grizzlies as part of sign-and-trade for D’Angelo Russell

Ex-Arizona golfer Nate Lashley dominates Rocket Mortgage Classic for first PGA Tour victory

After 15 years filled with tragedy and near-constant hurdles, Nate Lashley has finally broken through as a professional golfer.

The former Arizona standout blew away the field at the Rocket Mortgage Classic this weekend in Detroit, firing a final-round 70 on Sunday to finish at 25-under par and win by six shots. It was the first victory on the PGA Tour for the 36-year-old Lashley, who played for the Wildcats from 2002-05.

Lashley is the ninth different UA alum to win on the PGA Tour, but it’s fair to say that none had to navigate as treacherous a road as him to get to that point.

His win comes 15 years after his parents and girlfriend were killed in a plane crash on their way back from watching Lashley compete in the 2004 NCAA West Regional tournament. After turning pro in 2005 he spent more than a decade on lower-tier tours while selling real estate on the side, then in 2015 made the PGA’s Latin America tour.

He won three events on that tour in 2016, earning Player of the Year, and moved up to the Web.com Tour in 2017 before earning his PGA Tour card in 2018. A knee injury cut that first season short, but in 2019 he had a top-10 finish at the Puerto Rico Open and tied for 28^th at the U.S. Open in June.

Lashley, who is from Nebraska and currently lives in Scottsdale, was the third alternate for the Rocket Mortgage Classic and didn’t learn he would compete in the tourney until Wednesday. But a day later he shot a 9-under 63 and followed that with a 67 on Friday and another 63 on Sunday for his first 54-hole lead on the PGA level.

With the victory, Lashley earns full exemption on the PGA Tour through the 2020-21 season and earns a spot into the next four major tournaments, including the British Open in July.

Finishing tied for third in Detroit was another member of the Arizona/PGA Tour champion club, Rory Sabbatini. Sabbatini has six PGA victories, but none since 2011.

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Brandon Ashley to play for Sacramento Kings in NBA Summer League

Former Arizona baseball star Kevin Newman on recordhit streak with Pirates

It's been a heck of a first full season in the major leagues for former Arizona Wildcats standout Kevin Newman. And his latest feat has put him into the conversation for National League Rookie of the Year.

Newman, a 2015 first round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates, singled to lead off Saturday's game in Milwaukee to extend his hitting streak to 19 games.

Kevin Newman’s 19-game hitting streak is the longest by a Pirates rookie since 1900. #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/9vItbzwfNB

— Pirates (@Pirates) June 30, 2019

The infielder went 2 for 4 in the Pirates’ 3-1 loss to the Brewers to give him 30 hits during the streak that began June 10. Along the way he smacked homers in three consecutive games before Saturday.

– Kevin Newman (PIT) his hitting streak to 19 games longest active streak in #MLB, according the Elias, that is the longest hit streak by a #Pirates rookie in the Modern Era. Last 3 rookie SS with hitting streaks of 19+ games are Nomar Garciaparra, Corey Seager and Ángel Sanchez

— Eduardo Perez (@PerezEd) June 30, 2019

The consistent hitting is nothing new for Newman, who from 2013-15 hit .337 with 227 hits and 112 RBI in 165 games for Arizona, including a .370 average as junior. That led to his first-round selection in 2015 and a quick rise to the bigs, getting a call up late last season before becoming making Pittsburgh’s Opening Day roster in March.

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Attorney for ex-Arizona assistant Mark Phelps claims defamation, says firing was to help offset potential NCAA sanctions

In February, Arizona Wildcats athletic director Dave Heeke announced that the UA had “initiated the process to terminate” assistant basketball coach Mark Phelps.

The impetus for the move was not specified other than Heeke said the UA is “committed to the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct” and “the decision to remove Coach Phelps immediately is a direct result of that commitment.”

ESPN later reported that Phelps was being accused of an NCAA violation “regarding former Arizona recruit Shareef O’Neal’s academic transcripts.”

Phelps’ attorney, Donald Maurice Jackson, denied any wrongdoing by Phelps at the time, and released a statement Saturday to claim defamation against Heeke and say that Phelps’ firing was an effort for Arizona to help offset NCAA sanctions that could be coming as result of the federal investigation into college basketball that saw former UA assistant Book Richardson receive a three-month prison sentence for bribery.

Here is Jackson’s statement in its entirety:

On Monday May 20, 2019, a “termination hearing” was held on the campus on the University of Arizona. The University of Arizona called three witnesses: Director of Athletics Dave Heeke, Senior Associate Director of Athletics Krystal Swindlehurst, and Associate Athletic Director Brent Blaylock. Coach Phelps was represented by his counsel, Don M. Jackson of The Sports Group and the University was represented by in house Counsel.

In sworn testimony, Director of Athletics Heeke admitted that he had no knowledge of NCAA violations by Coach Phelps, acknowledged he had no record of written communications with NCAA staff and had no record of written communications with NCAA staff and had engaged in no oral communications with NCAA staff regarding Coach Phelps.

[Blaylock] provided no evidence of any violation other than a previously self-reported violation (by Coach Phelps) for which he already served a short suspension. [Swindlehurst] implied that Coach Phelps was terminated due to a personality conflict but, like Heeke and Blaylock, failed to specify either a violation of University policy or NCAA legislation.

All University witnesses failed to specify violations of either NCAA legislation or University policy (when questioned about the bases for Phelps’ termination). Blaylock simply stated that Phelps could just find another job when he was questioned about the impact of wrongful termination (on Phelps’ coaching career).

The actions of University of Arizona representatives, particularly [Heeke] amount to defamation. The written accusations made (by Heeke) in Phelps’ notice of termination were calculated, malicious and false. No evidence was offered during the hearing to support the allegations and Heeke acknowledged that he had no evidence to support his allegations. On several occasions, representatives of the NCAA Enforcement Staff have notified counsel for Coach Phelps (in writing) that they have no evidence of violations by Coach Phelps. Notably, Swindlehurst started (during the hearing) that one of the bases for Coach Phelps’ termination was his absence of social skills. Blaylock stated that Phelps could simply find another job.

Coach Phelps’ termination hearing was memorialized by a court reporter. To date, the hearing officer has made no formal findings. Coach Phelps’ contract expires on June 30, 2019.

Coach Phelps’ conduct was in strict compliance with NCAA legislation. Notably, he engaged in daily (written) interaction with UA’s compliance staff over issues pertaining to every potential recruit. This evidence was provided to the Hearing Officer, representatives of the NCAA and counsel for the University of Arizona.

In short, the University of Arizona’s “termination hearing” was a pre-textual effort to garner potentially reduced penalties for anticipated NCAA infractions unrelated to Coach Phelps. As a direct result of the defamatory statements by University of Arizona representatives, Coach Phelps has been rendered virtually employable in collegiate basketball despite the fact that no specific violations of NCAA legislation or institutional policy were alleged, much less proven, against him.

Phelps was hired by Arizona prior to the 2015-16 season. He was replaced by former NAU head coach Jack Murphy, who was hired by the UA in June.

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These former Arizona Wildcats are NBA free agents in 2019

NBA free agency begins Sunday at 3 p.m. PT, so let’s take a look at which former Arizona Wildcats standouts are on the market this summer.

T.J. McConnell, unrestricted

2018-19 stats: 76 G, 6.4 PPG, 3.4 APG, 2.3 RPG, 52.5 FG%, 33.3 3PT%

McConnell has been a glue guy for the Sixers at a bargain bin price the last few years, so now it’s time for him to get paid and find a bigger role.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, unrestricted

2018-19 stats: 59 G, 8.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 41.1 FG%, 64.5 FT%

The Nets declined to extend a qualifying offer to RHJ, making him an unrestricted free agent. His elite defensive versatility alone will garner him a lot of interest around the league, possibly even from the Phoenix Suns.

Stanley Johnson, unrestricted

2018-19 stats: 66 G, 6.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 38.9 FG%, 28.8 3PT%

The Pelicans declined to extend a qualifying offer to Johnson, making him an unrestricted free agent. His age (23), pedigree (former No. 8 pick) and defensive ability are appealing, but his struggles offensively, including his inability to make 3s, will limit his market. A one-year, prove-it deal figures to be his likeliest option.

Jerryd Bayless, unrestricted

2018-19 stats: 34 G, 6.1 PPG, 3.5 APG, 35.7 FG%, 29.6 3PT%

The 30-year-old is entering the twilight of his career and is coming off an injury-plagued season, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he tries to latch on with a contender on a minimum contract. Bayless has only appeared in one playoff game since 2015.

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Mariah Lopez complements Alyssa Denham, Arizona softball’s pitching staff ‘very well’

Like Arizona softball fans everywhere, former UA ace Taylor McQuillin was excited when the Wildcats added Oklahoma transfer Mariah Lopez.

“I think that with strong arms they have in the circle, I don’t see why Arizona won’t be at the World Series next year,” McQuillin said.

McQuillin and Lopez rose through the softball ranks together in Southern California. They were teammates on Mike Stith’s OC Batbusters team for three seasons and won two national championships.

So McQuillin knows what the Wildcats are getting in Lopez, a senior right-hander who went 19-1 in 2019, while sixth nationally in hits allowed per seven innings (3.87), 11th in ERA (1.25) and 11th in strikeouts per seven innings (9.5).

“Mariah is a power pitcher,” McQuillin said. “She works hard corners, up in the zone. ... She has a good changeup too, so she’s an all-around pitcher. She can change from day to day. That’s the best thing about her, she’s really diverse in what she can do and what she can accomplish. But I think that she thrives off of the defense behind her, and I think the team is only going to boost her confidence more.”

McQuillin thinks Lopez and Alyssa Denham, who served as Arizona’s No. 2 starter in 2018 and 2019, will “complement each other very well” in the circle.

Denham, a tall right-hander, saw a sharp rise in her strikeout totals in 2019, but throws in the low-to-mid 60s, relying on movement and pinpoint command to succeed. The senior went 11-6 with a 1.94 ERA in 2019, helping the Wildcats post a 1.59 ERA, the fifth-best mark in the country.

Lopez’s ERA was slightly better than McQuillin’s, so her arrival means Arizona should be more than capable of replicating its success in the circle in 2020, especially if underclassmen like Hanah Bowen and Marissa Schuld—who both posted 0.48 ERAs in limited action in 2019—can continue to be reliable tertiary options.

“Obviously with the defense and hitting that they have to support them, it’s going to be great,” McQuillin said.

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Which newcomers will make the biggest impact for Arizona football in 2019?

Kevin Sumlin’s first recruiting class could feature numerous day-one performers

Arizona faced issues on its football roster in 2018, such as a lack of depth and size in the trenches. One recruiting cycle after a 5-7 season doesn’t immediately fix that, but Kevin Sumlin’s class featured enough 3-star players on both lines that will help those issues and others.

Of the 20 members of Arizona’s 2019 class, four transferred from junior colleges, meaning they won’t be considered in this story. With that in mind, which of the 16 true freshmen will be household names in Tucson by December?

The easy and cheap answer here is Jalen ‘Boobie’ Curry. The only 4-star prospect in the class, Curry is a product of Houston’s St. Pius X, a private school in one of the most talent-rich areas in the country. He’s also playing a position (receiver) where UA lost its four best 2018 contributors, meaning he could start day one out of sheer necessity.

Curry He was a high school teammate and favorite target of fellow freshman Grant Gunnell, a quarterback. It’s very unlikely Gunnell makes an impact this fall, with Khalil Tate in his senior year and three other QBs on the depth chart who were with the program in 2018. Still, he’s the second-highest rated QB on the team according to the 247 Sports, behind Tate, and the second-highest rated signee in 2019 by the same measure, so he could be the leader of the future.

A common complaint last season was that players in the trenches were undersized thanks to previous coach Rich Rodriguez’s recruiting. Despite this, Arizona’s offensive line was solid if not great last season, and the defensive line produced an NFL draftee in PJ Johnson. Other than Johnson, though, the D-line really struggled, and it seems that’s a place ripe for improvement. Which freshmen should you know there?

Two of Sumlin’s four JUCO signees were defensive linemen, and returner Kylan Wilborn showed flashes as a STUD. So freshmen will play depth roles this season, but that’s not a bad thing. Kane Bradford, a product of Dallas, is a big 6-foot-5, 275-pound end, and he could be asked to provide a pass rush that Arizona didn’t have in 2018. Kyon Barrs was rated lower in high school and plays the interior positions likely to be dominated by JUCOs Myles Tapusoa and Trevon Mason, but he could add size and depth immediately.

Arizona’s defensive backfield has six players who can form a pretty great unit this season, along with some depth below them. Still, four freshman join the cornerback corps. The most exciting is yet another Texas product—notice a pattern?—in Bobby Wolfe. Wolfe is from Houston’s Madison High School and was rated the 46th-best defensive back of the class by 247, and is the No. 3 signee in Arizona’s class. He’ll perform a depth role this year, but he could be the next leader of the defense after Colin Schooler leaves.

One more player to mention who will 100 percent see playing time in 2019: punter Kyle Ostendorp. Arizona relied on grad transfer Dylan Klumph in 2018, and it replaced him with the 11th-best punter in the 2019 class. Ostendorp was also one of very few Arizonans in the class, and it’s important Arizona keeps a Phoenix pipeline in addition to the budding Texas and Southern California ones.

The biggest impact player this year is almost assuredly going to be Curry. When you’re returning as much overall experience as Arizona, though, the incoming freshmen are meant to provide depth and learn enough so that they can lead in a couple of years. This class has plenty of chances to provide that, with Bradford and Wolfe standing out as likely impact players for 2019. The 2020 season could see a lot of new starters on both sides of the ball, and it’s likely plenty of members of this class will take on those roles.

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Arizona finishes 41st in Directors’ Cup standings

Depending on the sports you followed closest, the 2018-19 season was either a pretty good one or a pretty bad one for the Arizona Wildcats. Which makes perfect sense when considering where Arizona finished in the latest Learfield IMG College Directors’ Cup standings.

Arizona placed 41^st overall among Division I athletic programs, which is a 10-spot improvement from the 2017-18 season. That No. 51 finish was the school’s worst in the 26-year history of the Directors’ Cup, however.

The Directors’ Cup is calculated by averaging out a school’s finish in up to 19 different sports, four of which must be baseball, men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball.

Arizona’s total score was 572.5, just behind Maryland and ahead of TCU. It earned 280 points in the spring, which was 30th in Division, buoyed by the women’s golf team’s third-place finish at the NCAA championships and softball’s appearance in the Women’s College World Series.

Stanford won the Directors’ Cup with 1567.75 points, claiming the crystal trophy for the 25^th time in 26 years. The Cardinal won six national titles (four women’s, two men’s).

Arizona ranked eighth among Pac-12 teams, one spot better than in 2018-19.

ASU finished 19th

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Life after Arizona softball not slowing down for Taylor McQuillin

Taylor McQuillin completed her college career a month ago, but the former Arizona Wildcats ace still hasn’t had much time to reflect on it.

The morning after the Wildcats were eliminated from the Women’s College World Series, they were on a plane back to Tucson, where McQuillin would stay for less than 48 hours before she had to catch another flight to Chicago to make her National Pro Fastpitch debut for the Cleveland Comets.

“I didn’t really have time to process a whole lot,” said McQuillin, who led UA to its first WCWS appearance since 2010. “Once the season’s over, you have to move on to something else. For me, my moving on was playing pro softball.”

And the way McQuillin describes it, it has been a “quick” but seamless transition into the next chapter of her softball career.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity that I get to play with such amazing people,” she said. “My teammates here are great, I love them all. They really helped with the transition. We’ve had a couple girls coming in and we’re all new to the situation so they’re trying to figure things out as they go as well.”

Originally from Southern California, McQuillin had never been to Ohio before joining the Comets, but she said she feels at home in the Midwest—even if “home” is just a collection of hotel rooms.

“Obviously when we’re on the road we stay in hotels, and when we’re in Cleveland we stay in a hotel/condo environment,” McQuillin said from a Florida hotel after a game against the USSSA Pride. “So it kind of feels like we’re living in hotels all the time, but I think that college softball really prepared me for that and being gone every weekend, every other weekend.”

McQuillin has a 2.97 ERA in a league-high 37.2 innings so far in her rookie season, showing why the Comets selected her sixth overall in the April’s NPF Draft. McQuillin has struck out 32 batters, second-most in the NPF, a six-team league in which every lineup is stacked with fellow All-Americans.

“You’re playing the best of the best, and you’re playing people that have been around for 14, 15 years,” McQuillin said. “And it’s different especially in your rookie season coming out and playing people like Kelly Kretschman. They just said today that this her 14th year in the NPF. so it’s crazy to see. The talent is very diverse. The age differences could be minor, they could be large.”

The Comets usually play five or six times a week, packing roughly 50 games into a three-month schedule. Combine that with the 62 games McQuillin endured at Arizona, and it has taken a toll on the hard-throwing lefthander.

“I joke around with the people in Arizona that I feel like I’m a 22-year-old living inside an 80-year-old body right now,” McQuillin laughed. “And then coming straight into the pros, having two to three days off, it’s been rough. I think my body’s definitely taken a hit, but I think the best part about it is that I’m still waking up every day, getting my workouts in, finding people to do things with, going and playing softball. And for me it’s learning how to push through everything that my body’s endured from 60-plus games in this past season and then coming and playing another 48 to 55. But this is what I worked for this whole entire year.”

The grind will continue in late July when McQuillin will join the Mexican National Team as it heads to Peru for the Pan American Games. In late August, she will be in Vancouver for a week of Olympic qualifying games.

Mexico—which could be adding former UA ace Danielle O’Toole to its pitching staff—has a solid chance of qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. About three-quarters of the Comets’ roster consists of Mexican national team players, so the NPF season gives them a chance to build some chemistry before they play on the international stage.

“I’ve dreamt about it since I was a little kid,” McQuillin said of playing in the Olympics. “Just being able to get a chance, even if it wasn’t for USA, to represent the other side of my family with the Mexican National Team and being able to try to compete for an Olympic spot and go to the Olympics in 2020, that’s huge for me just to be able to say that I was on an Olympic team.”

In the fall, McQuillin will return to Tucson and join Pima Community College as an assistant pitching coach, an opportunity that arose because of her familiarity with head coach (and former Wildcat) Rebekah Quiroz. The two often crossed paths at games and camps in Tucson.

“That was just an opportunity that I thought that as long as I’m in Tucson, it will be an opportunity for me to build and grow and kind of build my resume and kind of start out as a coaching route and see where I could end up,” McQuillin said. “And I think that with the team that they have coming in, and the goals that they have coming in this year, they’re projected to do really well. So I’m hoping that the girls really take in a lot and I get to learn from their coaching staff as well.”

As a bonus, returning to Tucson means McQuillin will get to watch Arizona’s seniors close out their collegiate careers.

“They’re are really close friends of mine and I love to watch them succeed,” McQuillin said. “So for me that was a big decision... other than I’m fresh out of college, don’t have a lot of money, Tucson’s a very cheap place to live, and that’s where my family resides.”

At one point, McQuillin wasn’t sure if she wanted to continue with softball after college. She considered pursuing a career in nursing or neonatal pediatrics instead. But as her senior season approached, she realized she wasn’t ready to step away.

“I didn’t really know what my life was going to be like about softball and I didn’t really want to find out,” McQuillin said. “And I think that being able to have the opportunities that I have come across, .... this was a good way to transition out of college and build my life.”

McQuillin said it’s hard to believe that she won’t get another chance to wear an Arizona uniform. She expects that realization to hit her hard when she returns to Hillenbrand Stadium as a spectator next season.

Nevertheless, she has high hopes for the 2020 team, which just added Oklahoma star pitcher Mariah Lopez, McQuillin’s former travel ball teammate.

“Arizona softball has some amazing players that are still there right now, amazing players that are coming in, new transfers that we’re super excited to see, and I can’t wait to watch this team do amazing things,” McQuillin said. “And next year, I really hope that I’m at the World Series watching them compete for a national championship.”

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Analyzing Arizona commit and 3-star TE Drake Dabney

The Arizona Wildcats landed their first pass catcher for the 2020 recruiting class on Wednesday in Cy Ranch (Cypress, TX) tight end Drake Dabney.

Our original story can be found here, and below is more in-depth analysis on Dabney from Brandon Combs and Gabe Encinas.

Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 225 pounds

School/Hometown: Cy Ranch High School (Cypress, TX)

Offers: Arizona State, Baylor, Boston College, Cal, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisville, Memphis, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Prairie View A&M, Purdue, Rice, SMU, South Carolina, Southern Miss, TCU, Texas State, Toledo, Tulane, Tulsa, Utah, UTSA, Vanderbilt

2018 Stats: 4 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TD (only in 4 games)

Rankings (via 247Sports): 755th overall, 28th tight end, 103rd in Texas

Gabe Encinas: I love what Dabney brings to the table. He’s a big body pass catcher with some strong hands. From the film it’s hard to gauge exactly how fast he is and get a good assessment of his routes, but it’s hard not to like him as a pass catcher.

Where he really shines is as a blocker. He has the power and command to steer guys in another direction and appears to be someone who enjoys blocking.

Tight end was not utilized much in 2019 which was frustrating given the production we saw from Bryce Wolma as a true freshman in 2018.

Dabney has a great frame and could either play as a true tight, hybrid receiver or h-back. He looks similar to current receiver Zach Williams from the 2018 class, who played tight end in high school and has since been converted to a wide receiver. He is also similar to former tight end/h-back Terrence Miller.

He might be a tweener when it comes to tight end and receiver, but someone with his combination can definitely find a role in the offensive and brings a nice wrinkle to the game plan.

I think he’s appropriately ranked around the 700-800 mark, and his offer list makes him a highly-sought-after prospect.

Brandon Combs: Not only did Arizona add another player from Texas but they added a darn good one. Dabney held 27 offers and for good reason.

I love Dabney’s game. He is just a gritty player—tough, effective, and good at what he does.

His main niche is blocking, and he is dang good at it. He plays with nice pad level and drive. He also has a great motor and is a relentless blocker.

But blocking isn’t the only thing he is good at. He is surprisingly atheltic for someone his size. He is a smooth route runner and has better hands than one would think. As Gabe alluded to above, he has strong hands, allowing him to win those contested catches.

Dabney was a wanted man and the fact that UA was able to land him should be considered a win by all accounts. All around, another great pickup for Arizona as the 2020 class takes shape with a lot of solid pieces.

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Analyzing Arizona commit and 3-star OT Woody Jean

We take a look at the Florida-based lineman

The Arizona Wildcats landed their third offensive lineman for the 2020 recruiting class on Tuesday in Deerfield Beach (FL) offensive tackle Woody Jean.

Our original story can be found here, and below is more in-depth analysis on Jean from Brandon Combs and Gabe Encinas.

Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 287 pounds

School/Hometown: Deerfield Beach High School (Deerfield Beach, FL)

Offers: Arizona, Bowling Green, Florida Atlantic, Indiana, Northern Illinois, Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse, Temple, Tulane, Western Kentucky

2018 Stats: N/A

Rankings (via 247 Sports): No. 1,330 player nationally, No. 118 offensive tackle, No. 163 player in Florida

Gabe Encinas: This is a very raw prospect when it comes to technique, which is similar to fellow OT commit Cedric Melton. But Jean addresses two needs that Sumlin has been addressing; size and offensive line depth.

This is a project for sure just due to the raw talent. There’s a good base, but the technique just needs to be applied. Once that is down, he could potentially work into a starting role.

He has better size at 287 pounds, and still looks small in his film, but could definitely add about 30 pounds and remove some of the bad weight.

He’s physical and mean but plays a little high and will need some better footwork. But those should be things that can be corrected by DeVan early on.

Brandon Combs: Jean is another solid addition the the offensive line. Yes, he is raw and will need some work, but the talent is there.

He plays for one of the best high schools in the country and that can’t be overlooked.

He plays aggressively, but not to the point where it becomes a hinderance. It’s controlled. He finds his target and just attacks. He does play a little high but that is something that can be easily fixed.

I think he does a great job using his hands and you don’t see him reaching too often, which can result in penalties. He is also able to generate a surprising amount of power considering he hasn’t filled out a his frame yet.

All-in-all, he is a solid piece for Kyle DeVan to mold and develop, and much like Gabe, I could see him in a starting role a little later in his career.

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Arizona football’s over/under win total opens at 7

Time to run your bookie out of business

The Arizona Wildcats finished a disappointing 5-7 last season, but bookmakers believe there will be a slight improvement in 2019. FanDuel has now opened the over/under win total for Arizona at 7.

The odds for both the over and under are at -108, meaning a $100 bet on Arizona to would net you a winnings of $92.

Arizona has a slightly more difficult schedule this year than last especially when it comes to road games. The Pac-12 looks to be down once again this season, which should give a sense of hope for a bowl win type of season.

The line opening at seven seems pretty fair, but the initial reaction would be to hit the under. Of course that is also an emotional hedge, where you can profit if they do go under or if they hit over seven wins then that should be seen as a good year.

The rest of the Pac-12 over/under and odds are as follows

• Washington — 9.5 (Over -124, Under -124)
• Utah — 9 (Over -114, Under -102)
• Oregon — 9 (Over +102, Under -120)
• Washington State — 8.5 (Over +102, Under -120)
• Arizona State — 7.5 (Over +125, Under -145)
• USC — 6.5 (Over -114, Under -102)
• Stanford — 6.5 (Over -108, Under -108)
• California — 6 (Over -102, Under -114)
• UCLA — 5.5 (Over -108, Under -108)
• Colorado — 4.5 (Over -108, Under -108)
• Oregon State — 2.5 (Over +130, Under -155)

Washington at 9.5 seems a little rich even with their garbage non-conference schedule. They have stockpiled talent but lose a lot of their key pieces on both sides of the ball.

Utah is always competitive but it’s hard to imagine them piecing together a 10-win season.

Oregon at nine seems like a tough draw as well, even though they have the talent to compete, there’s just that sense that they’re a touch overrated.

Washington State seems like a very good bet to go over, especially with a chance at some plus money. There’s actually a good chance at the Cougars winning the north when assessing the landscape of conference.

Herm Edwards pulled out a pretty decent season in year one, but they just have too much offense to replace. Seven seems like an appropriate total for them. Of course, you can always go for the emotional bet like myself and bet the over, making this another emotional hedge.

USC at 6.5 shows that there’s not a lot of confidence in the Trojans and Clay Helton and for good reason. But 6.5 seems a but low, even with their schedule, and I have to go over.

Stanford at 6.5 seems low once again and at this point I’d bank on Shaw putting together a respectable season.

Cal has a bit of a tough schedule with Ole Miss thrown in there. They’ve been on the rise and I don’t have a lot of confidence in the North but I’ll have to go under here.

Year one for Chip Kelly was not pleasant, and 5.5 is essentially saying they’ll miss bowl season for the second year in a row. They have a pretty tough draw in non-conference with Cincinnati, SDSU and Oklahoma, and there’s a good chance they lose all three. This is a toss up but I guess I’ll take the under at 5.

Perhaps some new coach smell here with Colorado at 4.5, I just can’t see them being a win away from bowl eligibility.

Oregon State getting whacked with 2.5, I think they’ll hit the under.

As a refresher here is Arizona’s schedule:

• at Hawaii
• Bye
• NAU
• Texas Tech
• UCLA
• at Colorado
• Washington
• at USC
• at Stanford
• Oregon State
• Bye
• at Oregon
• Utah
• at ASU

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Suns to pursue Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in free agency?

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson chose Arizona once, so maybe he’ll do it again.

The Phoenix Suns are expected to pursue the former Arizona Wildcat in free agency, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Hollis-Jefferson is an unrestricted free agent after the Brooklyn Nets decided not to extend a qualifying offer that would have made him a restricted free agent.

However, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7, who is as connected to Phoenix sports teams as anyone, tweeted that “contrary to reports I do not expect the Phoenix Suns to show any interest in free agent Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.”

The 24-year-old forward is coming off an injury-plagued 2018-19 season, in which he averaged 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, a notch below his career-best averages of 13.9 and 6.8 in 2017-18.

The former first-round pick appeared in 59 games, making 21 starts for the Nets, who reached the playoffs for the first time in four years.

Offensive limitations aside, the 6-foot-7 Hollis-Jefferson is regarded as a terrific, versatile defender, something the Suns do not have an abundance of.

Phoenix finished second to last in the NBA in defensive rating this past season, allowing 115.1 points per 100 possessions.

The Timberwolves and Rockets are also expected to show interest in Hollis-Jefferson when free agency begins at 3 p.m. PT on June 30.

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Former Arizona star Stanley Johnson to become unrestricted free agent

The Pelicans declined his qualifying offer

The New Orleans Pelicans have declined to extend a qualifying offer to Stanley Johnson, making the former Arizona Wildcats standout an unrestricted free agent this summer, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Sources: The Pelicans have declined to extend a qualifying offer to forward Stanley Johnson, making him an unrestricted free agent. Johnson, 23, is a strong defender and will receive interest from several teams. Allows Pelicans to now have upwards of $28M in open space.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2019

Johnson was selected eighth overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2015 NBA Draft, but has yet to carve out a consistent role in the NBA.

For his career, Johnson is averaging 7.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game on a lackluster shooting line of .374/.293/.764, never averaging more than 8.7 points per game in a season.

The Pistons traded Johnson to the Pelicans during the 2018-19 season, and he averaged 5.3 points in 13.7 minutes per game in New Orleans.

The 23-year-old averaged 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in his lone season at Arizona. The former McDonald’s All-American was voted first-team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

Had New Orleans extended a qualifying offer (worth roughly $5.3 million), Johnson would have been a restricted free agent this summer and the Pelicans would have had the right to match any offer.

Charania reports that Johnson will receive interest from several teams, partly because of his defensive ability. Johnson gained some notoriety in 2016 when he pestered LeBron James during the NBA Playoffs.

Maybe Johnson, from nearby Orange County, will join LeBron on the Lakers, who have a ton of roster spots to fill after gutting their team for Anthony Davis.

In the meantime, here is a funny story involving Johnson:

Stanley Johnson news allows me to re-post my favorite Summer League story ever! Johnson was playing in Orlando Summer League before his second year. In one game he got a player trapped in the corner and just kept pressing up on the guy defensively.

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 27, 2019

The player eventually threw the ball off Johnson and said "Damn man! Why are you playing so hard? You already made the league!" Sitting nearby was Stan Van Gundy who very loudly, yet under his breath, said "And that's why you'll never be in the league."

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 27, 2019

SVG was right. The offensive player hasn't sniffed an NBA roster since. I became a big Stanley Johnson fan at that point. Give me guys who play hard everyday. It's a skill that not enough players have. Hoping Johnson eventually finds his place in the NBA and gets back at it!

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 27, 2019

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Former Arizona Wildcat Joseph Blair named Sixers assistant coach

The G League is supposed to be a place for players to develop until they, hopefully, earn a call up to the NBA.

The same goes for coaches.

Rio Valley Grande Vipers head coach and former Arizona Wildcat Joseph Blair was hired by the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant coach on Monday.

Blair is coming off a season in which he led the Vipers, the Houston Rockets’ affiliate, to a G League championship. He will be coaching the Sixers during NBA Summer League, which begins July 5.

The Sixers went 51-31 in 2018-19, losing to eventual-champion Toronto Raptors in seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

”I’m honored and excited to work alongside Brett, this staff, and team, as well as being a part of such a historic, respected, and energetic organization,” Blair said in a statement. “I look forward to learning, growing, and adding value, all while producing positive results for the city and the organization.”

The former UA center averaged 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game with the Wildcats, starting for the 1994 Final Four squad.

Blair was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Draft but never suited up in an NBA game. He bounced around various overseas professional leagues from 1996-2009, and was the EuroLeague MVP in 2003.

When Blair’s playing career ended, he returned to Arizona as a an undergraduate assistant, then a graduate manager from 2013-15, helping develop UA’s frontcourt players.

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Arizona lands commitment from 3-star Texas TE Drake Dabney

Grading Arizona baseball’s outfielders for 2019 season

Arizona softball adds Oklahoma pitcher Mariah Lopez

The transfer should be the Wildcats’ new ace

Oklahoma senior right-hander Mariah Lopez is transferring to Arizona, giving the Wildcats a huge boost in the circle for the 2020 season.

The Saugus, California native went 19-1 with a 1.25 ERA in 2019, holding opponents to a .159 batting average while tallying 159 strikeouts in 117.2 innings.

Lopez also appeared in two Women’s College World Series games, helping the Sooners advance to the championship series.

Lopez will make a strong case to be Arizona’s new ace. The Wildcats lost ace Taylor McQuillin to graduation, but return No. 2 starter Alyssa Denham, who went 11-6 with a 1.94 ERA in 108.1 innings as a junior in 2019.

Arizona also returns underclassmen Hanah Bowen, Marissa Schuld and Vanessa Foreman. Bowen and Schuld posted 0.48 ERAs, but only pitched a combined 43.2 innings.

“She’s a great fit on our team and will make an excellent addition to our already accomplished pitching staff,” UA coach Mike Candrea said of Lopez in a statement. “She brings Women’s College World Series experience and comes to Arizona with already decorated collegiate career. She played with many of our current players in travel ball and has worked with Susie Parra, so there’s a level of familiarity that you don’t often get with transfers. I’m very excited to add Mariah and the incoming freshmen to our great group of returners and can’t wait to see this team compete in 2020.”

With Lopez in the fold and most of its lineup set to return, Arizona figures to be in great shape to make another run to the WCWS.

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3-star offensive tackle Woody Jean commits to Arizona

The Wildcats add yet another lineman

The Arizona Wildcats have added their second lineman since Sunday, as three-star tackle Woody Jean announced his commitment Tuesday via Twitter.

Jean stands at 6-foot-4, 287 pounds and hails from Deerfield Beach High, which is one of the top programs in Florida, ranked 18th in the state and 154th in the nation.

Time to start a New Chapter in my Life #BearDown ⬇️ #BlockA20 @CoachDeVan @CoachSumlin @CoachSpringerST @Coach_Peavey @DB_BucksFB @agray4877 @markonicolas @ArizonaFBall @joshuaaarondono pic.twitter.com/Q4EZw8CBuo

— Woody Jean (@WoodyJean_15) June 25, 2019

Jean held offers from Florida Atlantic, Indiana, Syracuse and USF among others. He is ranked as the No. 1323 prospect in the country and No. 117 among offensive tackles.

Arizona has now added three offensive linemen in the 2020 class, with three-star center Josh Baker of Missouri and three-star tackle Cedric Melton of Texas. Jean is currently the highest ranked of the three linemen commitments, and the third highest commitment overall for Arizona.

This drives Arizona’s commitment total up to six. The class ranks 80th in the nation and ninth in the Pac-12.

The Wildcats landed Texas defensive end Robert Wooten just a couple days ago.

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Who will be Arizona’s top receiving targets in 2019?

Arizona offers Eastern Kentucky grad transfer Dujuanta Weaver, per report

The Arizona Wildcats have recently offered Eastern Kentucky graduate transfer Dujuanta ‘Tay’ Weaver, according to Evan Daniels of 247Sports.

The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 10.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game last season, averaging 29.7 minutes per contest. Weaver has one year of eligibility left and can play immediately. He missed the entire 2016-17 season with an injury.

Eastern Kentucky graduate transfer Tay Weaver recently picked up offers from Arizona, New Mexico & St. Louis, he tells @247Sports.

— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) June 25, 2019

Weaver only shot 36.2 percent from the field last season, but that is partly because he hoisted almost eight 3-pointers per game, converting a solid 35.9 percent of them.

That shot distribution is not all that different from UC Irvine grad transfer Max Hazzard, who averaged 6.5 3-point attempts per game last season, making 38.7 percent of them. Both are listed at 5-foot-10.

Weaver mostly played the point at EKU, but would likely play off the ball at Arizona, given his distributing numbers.

However, right now the Wildcats have the maximum 13 scholarship players on their roster, meaning they do not have room to add Weaver or any other player.

But that can change in an instant, as we’ve seen in an offseason in which the Wildcats have experienced an incredible amount of roster turnover.

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Ex-Arizona baseball star Bobby Dalbec makes minor league All-Star team

The minor league career of Bobby Dalbec is going as well as the one he had with the Arizona Wildcats, which is saying something.

Now in his fourth season of pro ball, Dalbec can add “All-Star” to his growing list of accolades after he was invited to the Double-A Eastern League All-Star Game set for July 10 in Richmond, Va.

Congrats to @BobbyDalbec, a 2019 Eastern League All-Star! #MLBTrainingGround | #BearDown https://t.co/xxevCOiumS

— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) June 24, 2019

The 23-year-old third baseman entered Monday hitting .233 with 14 home runs and 37 RBI in 68 games for the Portland (Maine) SeaDogs. He leads the Eastern League with 45 walks and is tied for second in homers.

Dalbec has hit .265 with 66 homers and 220 RBI in 316 minor league games, knocking 32 out of the park between Single-A Salem (Mass.) and Portland in 2018. He entered this year rated by MLB.com as the No. 2 prospect for the Boston Red Sox, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2016.

That selection came while Dalbec was helping Arizona to the College World Series championship series, capping a season in which he hit .260 with seven homers and 40 RBI while going 11-6 with a 2.50 ERA and seven saves.

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Analyzing Arizona commit and 3-star DE Robert Wooten

Breaking down the big-time pass rusher

The Arizona Wildcats landed their first defensive lineman for the 2020 recruiting class in Sunday in Stafford (Texas) defensive end Robert Wooten.

Our original story can be found here, and below is more in-depth analysis on Wooten from Brandon Combs and Gabe Encinas.

Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 255 pounds

School/Hometown: (Stafford, TX)

Offers: Arizona State, Arkansas, Cal, Colorado State, Houston, UConn, Kansas, Louisiana-Lafayette, North Texas, Prairie View A&M, Syracuse, Tulane, Tulsa, UNLV, Utah, Utah State, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin

2018 Stats: 79 tackles (22 for loss), 11 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 forced fumbles

Rankings (via 247 Sports): No. 575 overall, No. 21 defensive end, No. 80 player in Texas

---

Gabe Encinas: Kevin Sumlin comes in with a huge commitment here landing a high-end prospect out of Texas. Wooten is a pure defensive end with a great frame at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds. He’ll need to add some weight and build up some power to shed blocks but the tools are there.

His best attribute is without a doubt his speed. Wooten has a great burst off the line to get into the backfield and disrupt the play. He can play inside or out at the seven or five technique, forcing the tackle to get off-balance for a clear path to close in on the quarterback.

He is a relentless yet smart rusher, rarely over-pursuing on the play. His stats as a defensive linemen show how active he is on the edge and how much field he can cover.

He could very well be a fringe four-star prospect by the time his senior season ends and his offer list could add some elite programs that Arizona will need to fight off until the end.

Arizona has a load of defensive ends and edge rushers on the roster right now but Wooten has the skill to develop into a starter and dominate that role.

Brandon Combs: Arizona has added another fantastic piece to this class. Wooten is the type of defensive linemen that UA needs.

Coming in at 6-foot-3 and around 230 pounds, is solidly built. And much like Gabe, I agree he will need to add more good weight to his frame.

He is explosive, shooting like a cannonball at the snap and is in the backfield quick, fast and in a hurry. He also has really strong hands, grabbing onto the ball carrier and not letting go till he’s down.

But the attribute that sticks out to me is the disciplince that he shows on the football field. Much like Gabe pointed out above, he seems to rarely overpursue. He’s able to change his speed, deccelerate, and change direction on a whim. That kind of vision, discipline, and football IQ is tough to teach.

Getting Wooten on board is a huge win for Arizona. Wooten, J.B. Brown, Kwabena Watson, Eddie Siaumau, Jalen Harris, and Kylan Wilborn is a heck of a pass rushing group.

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Devonaire Doutrive staying at Arizona, won’t be transferring

Surprise!

When Alex Barcello announced his departure from the Arizona Wildcats on Monday, it opened the door for a new player to join the program.

But it turns out a familiar face will be using that 13th scholarship.

Sophomore guard Devonaire Doutrive, who had decided to transfer, announced Monday that he is staying at Arizona.

“Sorry for the confusion everyone,” he said on Twitter.

Sorry for the confusion everyone but I’m staying at the University of Arizona ⬇️

— Devonaire Doutrive (@Devonaire23) June 24, 2019

The move makes sense for Doutrive, who was looking for a bigger role, according to head coach Sean Miller.

With Barcello and Terry Armstrong gone, it opens up some reserve minutes on the wing in the upcoming season, as well as opportunity to step into a bigger role next season when Josh Green inevitably leaves for the NBA Draft. It also means Doutrive won’t have to sit out a season due to NCAA transfer rules.

A former four-star recruit, Doutrive only averaged 3.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 11.0 minutes in his freshman season, but played with tremendous energy that instantly made him a fan-favorite in Tucson

When Doutrive’s transfer was announced, Miller said in a statement that Doutrive was a “pleasure to coach” and in good academic standing.

“He has a bright future,” Miller said.

Now, that future includes the UA.

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Arizona hosting 2020 4-star wing Dalen Terry

The four-star wing is reportedly visiting the UA on Monday

The Arizona Wildcats are hosting four-star wing Dalen Terry on an unofficial visit Monday, according to Jake Weingarter of StockRisers.

The 6-foot-6 small forward is the No. 38 player in the 2020 class and No. 3 player in Arizona, per 247Sports composite rankings.

Arizona is hosting Top-35 junior Dalen Terry for an unofficial visit today, a source told @Stockrisers.

— Jake (@jakeweingarten) June 24, 2019

The Tempe, Arizona native is enrolled at Hillcrest Preparatory Academy, the same institution Deandre Ayton attended. Terry also holds offers from ASU, Arkansas, Cal, Utah, Colorado and USC among others.

“Good size and very long arms. Still physically immature with plenty of room add strength,” reads Terry’s 247Sports scouting report. “Best asset is his passing ability; outstanding vision for positions. Extremely versatile wing. Respectable ball skills and can be at least a secondary ball handler but likely most effective as a playmaking wing. Better shooter from midrange than three. Capable finisher due to size and length. Has physical tools to guard multiple positions. Lot of upside here; if continues to improve as shooter and ball handler has easy NBA upside but worst case should be a high-major starter.”

Arizona is searching for its first 2020 commit, though incoming transfers Jemarl Baker Jr. and Jordan Brown are essentially part of that class.

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Alex Barcello to transfer from Arizona

The former top-100 recruit is out after two seasons

Junior guard Alex Barcello is transferring from the Arizona Wildcats, he announced Monday morning on Twitter.

The former four-star recruit averaged 2.9 points per game in 51 games at Arizona. Barring a waiver, he will have to sit out the 2019-20 season before having two years of eligibility at his new school.

“I was to say thank you to the University of Arizona and the fans for these past two amazing years, but I have decided it’s in my best interest to move in a direction that’s best for myself and my family.” he wrote.

Barcello was a top-100 recruit coming out of Tempe’s Corona del Sol High School, where he won two state championships and was a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year, but he was unable to carve out a consistent role with the Wildcats with whom he averaged 9.6 minutes per game.

Head coach Sean Miller often lauded Barcello’s shooting ability, but the 6-foot-2 guard shot just 29.7 percent from 3.

Barcello’s departure brings the Wildcats down to 12 scholarship players, meaning they have room to add another player this offseason. (This assumes Jake DesJardins, who was on scholarship in 2018-19, reverts to being a walk-on.)

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Wildcat Wrap: Arizona basketball watches a bunch of recruits at Phoenix event

It might be the offseason, but June is proving to be a busy month for the Arizona Wildcats. Here is what happened this past week.

Let us know in the comment section if we missed anything.

Women’s basketball

• Our Kim Doss took a deep look at the 2019-20 roster, including what the five international recruits can bring to the table. Overall, it’s a roster good enough to get Arizona back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005.

Baseball

• Our Christian Mortensen handed out some 2019 grades to Arizona baseball’s infielders. Stay turned for grades for the outfielders and pitchers.
• We took a look at how former Wildcats are doing in the MLB as well as two guys who are killing it in the minors.

Softball

• We caught up with former UA ace Danielle O’Toole to talk about the NPF, the 2020 Olympics, her favorite In-N-Out order, and lots, lots more.
• Two Arizona softball commits made USA Today’s All-USA High School Team

Soccer

• Sophomore forward Brooke Wilson is tearing up the WPSL, with six goals and three assists in seven games with San Diego Surf. Three other current UA players star for that team. We talked to Wilson about that and the interesting workings of the WPSL.
• The Women’s World Cup is in full swing and one of UA midfielder Kelcey Cavarra’s best friends, Mal Pugh, plays for the U.S. Women’s National Team. We talked to her about that. and got her thoughts on the criticism the USWNT has received for celebrating.
• Arizona officially released its non-conference schedule this week. A couple months ago we got our hands on the whole thing, which you can find here.

Track and Field

• Arizona is sending two athletes to the U20 Pan American Championships—PJ Austin and James Smith—which begin on July 18 in San José, Costa Rica.

Football

• Arizona added Robert Wooten, a 3-star defensive end from Texas.
• Staying with recruiting, our experts broke down o-line commit Josh Baker.
• 4-star defensive end Jason Harris, who has a long list of UA connections, took his official visit.
• Athlon Sports ranked Arizona as the ninth-best team in the Pac-12.

Men’s basketball

• Four-star recruit Terry Armstrong decided to go pro instead of enrolling at Arizona. We took a look at what the roster now looks like without him.
• The Suns made a questionable draft pick, but it could help Arizona land Puff Johnson, one of its top 2020 recruiting targets.
• Jason Terry, Mike Bibby, and Gilbert Arenas are playing in the Big 3 this summer.
• Brandon Randolph went undrafted as expected, but will play for the Minnesota Timberwolves in NBA Summer League.
• In general, it was a rough draft night for the Pac-12, which saw several underclassmen go undrafted.
• Before the draft, the Pelicans traded Solomon Hill to the Atlanta Hawks.
• 5-star guard Devin Askew unofficially visited Arizona on Thursday.
• Arizona freshman Zeke Nnaji is one of 18 finalists for the Team USA U19 World Cup team.
• We looked at how transfers have fared after leaving Arizona during the Sean Miller era.
• Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is hitting the free agent market.
• Arizona’s coaching staff watched a bunch of recruits at the Section 7 Team Camp in Phoenix including.... Askew, 2020 guard Daishen Nix, 2020 forward Osasere Ighodaro, 2021 guard Jaden Hardy, 2022 guard Skyy Clark, 2021 forward Daron Holmes, 2022 guard Richard Isaacs Jr., and 2021 shooting guard Will McClendon.

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3-star defensive end Robert Wooten commits to Arizona

Arizona adds a big time defensive lineman off the edge

The Arizona Wildcats have landed their fifth commitment of the 2020 class, as three-star defensive end Robert Wooten made his official announcement via Twitter on Sunday via Rivals.com’s Sam Spiegelman.

The high-end prospect hails from Stafford High School in Texas, holding offers to ASU, Missouri, Texas, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin. Missouri and Texas Tech joined Arizona in his top three schools.

At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Wooten checks in as the No. 574 ranked recruit in the nation and No. 21 ranked defensive end. Wooten entered the 247Sports ranking system back in January and was ranked No. 883 regardless of position, jumping 299 spots since inception.

As a junior he was named first-team all-district after tallying 79 tackles (22 for loss) and 11 sacks.

This is now Kevin Sumlin’s second defensive commit of the 2020 class, which ranks 82nd overall and 10th in the Pac-12, per 247Sports.

The other four commits are:

• 3-star QB Will Plummer
• 3-star CB Khary Crump
• 3-star C Josh Baker
• 3-star OT Cedric Melton

Wooten’s junior year highlights are below.

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Grading Arizona baseball’s infielders for 2019 season

It’s been a little more than three weeks since the Arizona Wildcats didn’t hear their name called during the NCAA Baseball Tournament Selection Show and almost two since several UA players were selected in the MLB Draft. So we thought it would be the perfect time to hand out end of season grades to each of the Wildcats’ position players, pitchers and coaches.

In the first of a four-part series, we’ll focus solely on the UA’s infielders, while next up will be the outfielders, followed by the pitchers and coaching staff.

It might’ve been the second straight season without an NCAA Tournament appearance for the Wildcats, but there were still plenty of standout performances from Jay Johnson’s squad that featured one of the most prolific offenses in all of college baseball in 2019.

Let’s get started.

NOTE: Barring season-ending injury, only position players who started at least 14 games (25% of the season) will receive a grade.

Austin Wells: A+

Class: Freshman

Positions: C/1B

Games played/started: 56/56

Batting average/On-base percentage/Slugging percentage: .353/.462/.552

RBI: 60

HR: 5

Extra-base hits: 27

In short: Are we allowed to give higher than an A+? Arizona’s first Pac-12 Freshman of the Year was simply a beast for the Wildcats in 2019. From hitting a home run in his first-ever collegiate at bat to being named to three different Freshman All-American Teams, the Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) product was everything UA fans could have hoped for and more in his debut season. He became the first Arizona freshman to log at least 60 runs scored and 60 RBI in a single campaign and also set Wildcat freshman records for both on-base percentage and runs scored. He finished top 10 among the nation’s freshmen in RBI, OBP, batting average, triples, walks, hits and total bases and quickly became a fan favorite at Hi Corbett Field thanks to his stellar play and a clever walk-up song (Magic Stick by 50 Cent).

The future: Johnson wants him to improve slightly on the defensive side of things heading into next season, but the sky really is the limit for Wells. He has true star potential and barring a catastrophic injury is set to become one of the faces of the program with Nick Quintana, Cameron Cannon and Matt Fraizer signing professional contracts. I’m knocking on all of the proverbial wood when I say this, but if Wells finds ways to improve on the season he just had, he’s a surefire top pick in the MLB Draft after his junior year.

Impressive rookie campaign for @wellsius16.

The @ArizonaBaseball catcher led the league AND all Division I freshmen with 72 runs scored, and his .353 BA ranked highest among Power 5 conference freshmen.

Wells is the #Pac12BSB Freshman of the Year. https://t.co/D3pjcfSC7V pic.twitter.com/VXjoT3ODIb

— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) May 29, 2019

Dayton Dooney: B+

Class: Freshman

Positions: 2B/SS

Games played/Started: 48/40

Batting average/On-base percentage/Slugging percentage: .323/.417/.596

RBI: 53

HR: 10

Extra-base hits: 24

In short: Dooney got his chance in the Wildcats’ infield after Jacob Blas went down with an injury and the California native certainly made the most of the opportunity. Not only did he hit for average in his first collegiate season, but he flashed some surprising power too - smacking 10 home runs this year, good for the second-most by a Wildcat in 2019 and twice the amount he hit his entire high school career. Considering the jump in dimensions from most high school fields to the ones at Hi Corbett, that’s super impressive. His 53 RBI were the third-most by an Arizona freshman since 1976 and he finished in the top ten among the nation’s freshman in slugging percentage as well.

The future: Johnson is big on him and after the power surge he had this year expect Dooney to be in the starting lineup come Opening Day 2020. There is visible need for defensive improvement—he made nine errors, which hurt his overall grade—but all signs point to him becoming an offensive stud for Arizona in the seasons to come.

Dooney goes BOOM!!

That's the 10th home run of the year for freshman @DaytonDooney

Top 6 | Arizona 12, WSU 4 pic.twitter.com/c2iuHJLEPO

— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 25, 2019

Matt Dyer: B+

Class: Redshirt Sophomore

Positions: C/1B/OF

Games played/started: 42/42

Batting average/On-base percentage/Slugging percentage: .393/.480/.571

RBI: 28

HR: 4

Extra-base hits: 18

In short: The Oregon transfer was easily the Wildcats’ most gritty player in 2019 and the fact that the redshirt sophomore missed a total of 14 games with a myriad of injuries reflects that. A broken hand kept Dyer out for the last couple weeks of the season, but before his injury he was one of Arizona’s most dynamic players, playing multiple positions on defense and hitting for both average and power at the plate. He finished top five in the conference in both batting average and on-base percentage and was named All Pac-12 Honorable Mention. If he had stayed healthy he would have gotten better than a B+. That’s a fact.

The future: Dyer is a gamer and it’s clear that Johnson admires his hard nosed style. He was actually eligible for the MLB Draft earlier this month, being a three-year player, but he wasn’t drafted and will return to Tucson in the fall. Him and Wells will definitely split time at catcher again next year, but expect Dyer to play more in the field while Wells gets most of the reps behind the plate. If he is able to stay on the field he could be one of the Pac-12’s best players in 2020.

Jacob Blas: Incomplete

Class: Sophomore

Positions: 2B/SS

Games played/started: 17/17

Batting average/On-base percentage/Slugging percentage: .246/.362/.316

RBI: 8

HR: 0

Extra-base hits: 3

In short: Before Blas sustained his season ending knee injury, it was obvious that Arizona’s skipper held him in high esteem both at the plate and defensively. Despite a somewhat mediocre batting average, he started every game he was available to play before getting hurt and at one point early in the season he was even switched from second base to shortstop when Cameron Cannon experienced a somewhat puzzling case of the yips. After the injury ended Blas’ season, Johnson compared it, along with the injuries to Dyer and Matt Fraizer, to losing Collin Schooler, J.J. Taylor and Khalil Tate from the football team. No kidding. While the impact might not have been that significant, losing Blas was a big blow to Arizona, especially defensively in the middle infield where Dooney and Cannon struggled at times in 2019.

The future: If Blas comes back fully healthy, it wouldn’t be surprising if some combination of him and Dooney are the starting middle infielders to open the 2020 season. If not, he’ll probably be a guy who stays around for his senior year.

Cameron Cannon: A+

Class: Junior

Positions: 2B/SS

Games played/started: 56/56

Batting average/On-base percentage/Slugging percentage: .397/.478/.651

RBI: 56

HR: 8

Extra-base hits: 40

In short: Cannon was by far Arizona’s most consistent hitter in 2019 and, impressively, he lead the nation in doubles (29) and had the most hits in the Pac-12 (92) while finishing second in the conference in batting average. Even though he struggled at times defensively, his hitting was so impressive that he was still named to the All Pac-12 First Team and brought in five All-American nods at the end of the year. And take a look at his BA/OBP/SLUG split again. Those numbers are outrageous for a second baseman. He did more than enough to get an A+.

The future: As expected, Cannon won’t be returning for his senior season after he was taken in the second round of the MLB Draft with the 43rd pick by the Boston Red Sox and signed for $1.3 million. His bat is more than good enough for him to become a big league second baseman one day and he will leave a cannon-sized hole in Arizona’s lineup going into next year.

#RedSox agree to deal with 2nd-round #MLBDraft pick (No. 43 overall, @RedSox's top pick) Cameron Cannon, an @ArizonaBaseball 2B, for $1,300,000 (slot value = $1,729,800), per @jimcallisMLB.

2nd-round selections, pick values & reported signing bonuses: https://t.co/bXAd8mw9JN pic.twitter.com/65VgOw5hm5

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 15, 2019

Nick Quintana: A

Class: Junior

Position: 3B

Games played/Started: 56/56

Batting average/On-base percentage/Slugging percentage: .342/.462/.626

RBI: 77

HR: 15

Extra-base hits: 33

In short: A Preseason All-American and Golden Spikes Watch List nominee, “Q” got off to a slow start in 2019, robbing him of an A+, but played so well during the conference slate that he was still able to live up to all the hype he had created. Despite having zero home runs and just 14 RBIs going into conference play, Quintana ended up leading Arizona in both HRs and RBI in 2019, while he also moved up to fourth on the program’s home run list with 35 career big flies to his name. On top of making the All-Pac 12 First Team and Defensive Honorable Mention, Quintana was named to three different All-American teams as well. He departs something of a legend of the early years of the Jay Johnson Era and it’s unfortunate that the Wildcats missed the postseason for he and Cannon’s final two seasons in Tucson.

The future: It was obvious for months that Q and Cannon weren’t going to be back for their senior seasons and the day the Wildcats were not selected for the NCAA Tournament Johnson went as far as saying, “there’s a lot of sadness in probably not coaching those guys again” when referring to them. The Arizona skipper was proven right a couple weeks later when Quintana was selected in the second round of the MLB Draft with the 47th pick by the Detroit Tigers and signed with them for $1.58 million. He has a big league work ethic which will suit him well at the next level, but his leadership and good example in the Wildcats’ clubhouse will be missed in a major way next season.

Can’t wait to start ! @tigers pic.twitter.com/ZYmMeq0nIB

— Q (@_Quintana13) June 10, 2019

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