Entire Arizona basketball team expected to report by start of fall semester

Jacob Snow-USA TODAY Sports

Traveling internationally isn’t easy during the coronavirus pandemic, but the Arizona Wildcats expect to have their entire roster on campus by the time the fall semester begins on Aug. 24, according to a UA spokesman.

That includes all six foreign prospects who signed in the 2020 recruiting cycle, even though the United States has banned travel from almost all of Europe.

Kerr Kriisa (Estonia) and Bennedict Mathurin (Canada) are already on campus, while Daniel Batcho (France), Tibet Gorener (Turkey) and Azuolas and Tautvilas Tubelis (Lithuania) will arrive later. Gorener went to high school in Southern California last year, but recent Instagram posts show he is currently overseas.

Brandon Williams is still listed as a student at the UA, but his future with the basketball program is uncertain.

The Pac-12 has postponed all games through January, but the Wildcats are still permitted to practice and work out so long as they are abiding by local health regulations.

“The new start date gives our conference the best opportunity to have a successful season in the safest environment possible for everyone involved, especially the student-athletes,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said in a statement Wednesday. “We appreciate the leadership President Robbins has provided our campus during these uncertain times, and we are eager to welcome our players safely back to campus,” Miller said. “Our staff is looking forward to utilizing the coming months to develop our team and building for the beginning of an exciting New Year.”

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