CORRECTION: UA going after a different New Zealand center
by Javier Morales on Dec. 01, 2009, under Sports
New Zealand 6-11 center Rob Loe lists his goal ambition as playing in the NBA and he idolizes Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant (New Zealand Basketball photo)
Arizona is not pursuing Class of 2011 center Mark Overdevest, a New Zealander at high-profile Montverde Prep (Fla.) as was reported recently, but is instead targeting fellow countryman Rob Loe, a 6-11 center, according to Josh Gershon of GOAZCATS.com.
UA assistant coach Book Richardson traveled to New Zealand after the Maui Invitational to watch Loe play. Gershon reports that Loe is tentatively scheduled to visit the UA campus within the next two weeks. Loe’s brother is a foreign exchange student at the UA.
Loe is also being recruited by Colorado, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, Cal and Notre Dame, among others. Kentucky and Washington State are also reportedly interested. He will enroll in the IMG Academy in Bradenton (Fla.) in the spring. That’s where UA freshman Kyryl Natyazhko attended school for a school year and a summer session after transferring from Ukraine.
Natyazhko, 6-10, is also a center, as is sophomore Alex Jacobson, a 7-footer. Jacobson has seen very limited playing time (only 2.8 minutes a game) while Natyazhko has started once and is averaging 15.4 minutes.
Arizona has one scholarship to spare for the Class of 2010 with senior point guard Nic Wise exhausting his eligibility. Phoenix North guard Daniel Bejarano, who has signed a national letter of intent, occupies the other known available scholarship.
Loe averaged 18.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in four games at the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championships last summer. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, who is hot on Loe’s trail, was the head coach for the USA’s U19 team that went 9-0 in the World Championships, which was played in Auckland, New Zealand.
Links pertaining to Loe, who is 18 years old and was born in England:
>>Loe hits new heights (named New Zealand’s top young sportsman)
>>College Sport: Big names pick up the major honours
>>Interview with IMG coach Dan Barto, who compares Loe to a “Brad Miller in his prime”
