Citizen Staff Writer
UA BASKETBALL
STEVE RIVERA
srivera@tucsoncitizen.com
New Arizona men’s basketball coach Sean Miller made it a trifecta Sunday, getting recruit Kevin Parrom to commit to the Wildcats after visiting Tucson over the weekend.
The 6-foot-6 shooting guard/small forward from South Kent (Conn.) Prep is expected to sign scholarship papers soon and join signees Solomon Hill and Kyryl Natyazhko to give UA a formidable 2009-10 freshman class. All three could see playing time right away for UA.
Parrom, a Bronx, N.Y., native, visited the University of Pittsburgh last week. He had signed with Xavier, but when Miller left that school for UA, Parrom was granted a release from his letter of intent.
“That’s what it comes down to,” Parrom told the New York Daily News. “I had a great relationship with coach Miller.”
Despite Parrom’s visit to Pitt, it seemed as if Arizona was the front-runner because of his connection to the new UA coaching staff.
South Kent Prep coach Kelvin Jefferson said last week that Parrom was looking for a “comfort level” and a chance to play right away.
With UA having just seven returning scholarship players for next season, there seems to be plenty of playing time available – or at least a chance at playing time.
Jefferson confirmed Parrom’s commitment Sunday afternoon.
“Arizona had the upper hand the whole way – it was just a matter of him getting to campus and walking around,” Jefferson said. “It was (about) getting a good feel for the environment. And he did that.”
In an interview last week, Jefferson said Parrom likely would return from Tucson and talk with his family before making a decision. But he didn’t need that much time.
Parrom committed before he left Tucson. His parents – Kenny Parrom and Lisa Williams – were with him.
“I spoke to his dad and he was excited,” Jefferson said of Mr. Parrom. “The one thing he said to me was, ‘They love their basketball out here.’ He was happy. He’s happy for his son but sad that he’s going far away. He knows this is a really good thing thing for Kevin.”
Parrom is the first UA recruit out of the New York area since guard Khalid Reeves of Queens led the Wildcats to the 1994 Final Four. Parrom left St. Raymond High in the Bronx to play his senior season at South Kent.
He has a good relationship with new UA assistant Emanuel (Book) Richardson, the former director of the New York Gauchos club team before he joined Miller’s coaching staff at Xavier in 2008.
UA isn’t likely done with recruiting just yet. The Cats are after McDonald’s All-American Lance Stephenson, a 6-foot-5 guard from Coney Island, who is New York’s all-time leading scorer. Memphis, coached by former UA assistant Josh Pastner, also is pursuing Stephenson.
The NCAA late signing period ends May 20, although players may accept a scholarship after that date.
N.Y. shooting guard to play for Wildcats
Continued from 1C
MILLER TRIO
Despite getting a late start, new UA coach Sean Miller has landed three top-tier high school seniors for the 2009-10 recruiting class:
• Solomon Hill, F, 6-6, Los Angeles Fairfax High (27th-ranked player overall by Rivals.com; 61st by Scout.com)
• Kyryl Natyazhko, C, 6-10, Ukraine, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla (41st overall by Scout; 81st by Rivals)
• Kevin Parrom, G-F, 6-6, Bronx, N.Y.; South Kent, Conn., High (74th by Scout; 122nd by Rivals)