Citizen Staff Writer
JOHN MOREDICH
jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com
New Arizona basketball coach Sean Miller will have to hit the recruiting trail in a hurry because the Wildcats don’t have many prospective recruits with the spring signing period starting April 15.
He might start with introducing himself to some players on the West Coast.
Victor Rudd, a 6-foot-7, 200-pound power forward, needs to know a lot more about the former Xavier coach.
Rudd, ranked 107th overall nationally by Rivals.com, had Arizona among his top three choices even before Miller was hired.
“Arizona is right there,” Rudd said in a phone interview Monday. “I really don’t know Miller that much to be honest with you.”
Rudd, who played at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev., says he is considering UA, Arizona State and Marquette.
UA current assistant Reggie Geary got on the phone with Rudd immediately after word surfaced that Miller was coming.
“Me and coach Geary have a great relationship built up,” Rudd said. “I really like him and the school. I have a great deal of respect for Arizona. Geary told me that he was going to set me up with Miller this week.”
Los Angeles Fairfax High School’s Solomon Hill also could be on the market despite his oral commitment to USC.
Hill, who committed to the Wildcats before Lute Olson’s retirement in October, is likely to at least listen to what Miller has to say.
“Solomon has never given up on Arizona. He was always interested in what they were going to do,” said Solomon Crawford, Hill’s father. “I would like to set a meeting up with Sean.”
Hill, who is 6-6, is a four-star recruit ranked 28th overall by Rivals. He is the No. 3 small forward.
Arizona’s only oral commitment thus far is Tremayne Johnson, a 6-7, 200-pound forward from Southwest Community College in Los Angeles. He could not be reached for a comment Tuesday.
Miller’s departure at Xavier already might have cost the Musketeers a recruit with forward J.D. Weatherspoon decommitting.
The junior, who won’t be able to play until the 2010-11 season, told the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch he would consider Arizona if Miller offers him a scholarship.
“I want to reopen my recruitment,” Weatherspoon told USA TODAY. “Xavier is still on my list, but I want to wait and see who they get as a coach.”
Santa Rita junior point guard Terrell Stoglin, a lifelong UA fan, says he is going to honor his commitment to Maryland.
Stoglin, who orally pledged for the Terrapins a week ago, says Miller won’t alter his plans.
“Not at all,” Stoglin responded in a text message. “I am very happy (with the Maryland decision).”
Miller will need to change other people’s minds to make this a successful class.
Citizen sportswriter Geoff Grammer contributed to this article.
‘Solomon has never given up on Arizona. He was always interested in what they were going to do. I would like to set a meeting up with Sean.’
SOLOMON CRAWFORD,
father of UA recruit Solomon Hill