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Which Incoming Wildcat Are You Most Excited About? 

I voted for Akot but Randolph is my number two. He is another player who I think, along with Akot, is going to be one of our main options in 18/19. I am excited for Ayton but you already know, for the most part, what you're going to get out of him next year (i.e. big time contributor, rebounding leader, etc.)

Whereas Akot and Randolph have the ability to be "x-factors" for us. I guess I am more excited for them simply because I am less certain as to how much they'll be able to contribute next year.

I'm most interested, but not " most excited" to see how much impact Barcello is able to bring. Could be a real sleeper ala TJ or an eventual redshirt. If successful, he alleviates the biggest concern on this team and keeps other potential backup pgs in their natural positions.

Quote from: Paper_Bag on May 25, 2017, 02:53:18 PM
I voted for Akot but Randolph is my number two. He is another player who I think, along with Akot, is going to be one of our main options in 18/19. I am excited for Ayton but you already know, for the most part, what you're going to get out of him next year (i.e. big time contributor, rebounding leader, etc.)

Whereas Akot and Randolph have the ability to be "x-factors" for us. I guess I am more excited for them simply because I am less certain as to how much they'll be able to contribute next year.

I voted for Randolph, but Akot is a gem and those two fit right where we have been weak.

Quote from: ollieboy5150 on May 26, 2017, 07:23:57 AM
I'm most interested, but not " most excited" to see how much impact Barcello is able to bring. Could be a real sleeper ala TJ or an eventual redshirt. If successful, he alleviates the biggest concern on this team and keeps other potential backup pgs in their natural positions.

I am hoping for a sort of ryan arcidiacono type of career out of Barcello. Won't be as successful as Ryan was his freshmen year but I am thinking he'll be a similar type of player by the end of his career.

I am most excited to see Barcello, because our season rides on his back and his production.  I am done hoping PJC can produce and it is unfair to the kid for all the expectations of a season to ride his back but at 5'8" or thereabout, he is just not capable of competing at the college level, IMHO.

I totally agree and am really hoping Barcello gets a lot of minutes after seeing what he can do on both ends of the floor. PJC hasn't been able to carry his weight on defense and he hasn't been able to stay healthy a full season. He however has improved each year and could be one of our best 3 point shooters. I'd be happy if they both got about 12 to 15 mins a game with the other time getting spread out.

Ayton is the obvious #1 as we know he will be starting and doing big things, but it's interesting to see who will come in 2nd since that is going to be the person everyone is most excited about since we really don't know what we're going to get out of the rest of the new comers.  I'm starting to lean on Ira Lee being a big surprise & exciting player this year, who ironically has the least amount of Votes in the Poll.

Ayton

My vote went to E.Akot.
I am a fan of long, do-it-all SFs like L.James,P.George,J.Butler for a NBA example.
They are like a Swiss army knife that can do many things well enough to stay on the floor by allowing the coach to move them around in the lineup to utilize one of their skills.

If Akot is the passer that people make him out to be, a 6'8 Point-Forward is going to be HUGE for us next season.
Ayton is probably going to get the most juice, but recruits like Akot are the ones that keep the make everyone's job easier.

I like what you're saying. Can you imagine if Akot ends up the X-factor being that he was originally not coming until 2018?

Quote from: Wildcatazfan on June 30, 2017, 10:33:28 PMI like what you're saying. Can you imagine if Akot ends up the X-factor being that he was originally not coming until 2018?

Honestly, yes I can.
I imagine if he is what people say he is, with the way Miller has used his athletic SFs in the past, I expect him to have one of the biggest impacts of all the freshmen.
What he does may not show up on the statsheet every game, but his length, passing and athleticism should create mismatches for us to exploit.
I am thinking R.Hollis-Jefferson but less of a defender and more of a polished offensive game with his ability to handle the ball and create for others.

Quote from: Wildcatazfan on May 30, 2017, 10:35:03 AM
I totally agree and am really hoping Barcello gets a lot of minutes after seeing what he can do on both ends of the floor. PJC hasn't been able to carry his weight on defense and he hasn't been able to stay healthy a full season. He however has improved each year and could be one of our best 3 point shooters. I'd be happy if they both got about 12 to 15 mins a game with the other time getting spread out.

This is a REALLY bad take and I will tell you why. First of all PJC's steal rate last year was not far off TJ's Junior year. Obviously he's not as good an on-ball defender due to size but his defense has been noticeably and gradually improving.

in regards to staying healthy: PJC has played in 99 of 109 possible contests in 3 years ... and I'm fairly certain the 4 in his Freshman year were Coaches Decision DNP. This leaves us at 99 of 105 games in which Miller wanted him to play. I suppose you are confusing 1 recent, minor injury with actual facts.

Now we come to his minutes. PJC will average 30+ MPG this season. Barcello will be on the outer edge of the rotation. Alex will be behind Akot, Randolph, and at least one (if not both) of Ira Lee and Keanu Pinder. Barcello is a shooter who averaged barely over a 1:1 A:TO ratio in a mediocre Phoenix league last year. PJC is a shooter who had STELLAR A:TO ratios last year at the highest level of amateur basketball.

I fully expect the backup PG duties to be distributed between Trier, Rawle, and Akot. I'm having trouble finding the interview but I don't recall Miller mentioning Barcello among his backup PG by committee. There is a reason for that.

/rant. Ayton seems like the obvious choice for most exciting freshman. We have not had a center of his size and skill in ... ever. Akot and Randolph will be great too but it's Ayton and everyone else.