It’s only April but the offseason recruiting for college basketball is in full swing, if the gym at the Henderson (Nevada) International School was any indication Thursday night.

Findlay Prep, which plays its home games at the gymnasium, staged a 3-on-3 scrimmage with its Class of 2012 and 2013 standouts and plenty of coaches were on hand to see and be seen.

The schools included: Arizona, Cal, Washington, Stanford, ASU, USC, Oregon, Gonzaga, New Mexico, Virginia, Northern Illinois, Oakland and Memphis. The Wildcats were represented by assistant coach Book Richardson.

Among some of the standouts were Class of 2013 shooting guard Nigel Williams-Goss, Class of 2012 power forward Anthony Bennett, Class of 2012 wing player Winston Shepard and Class of 2012 shooting guard Nazareth Long.

Williams-Goss, 6-4, 180, has verbally committed to UNLV but that could change depending on who Rebels athletic director Jim Livengood hires to replace Lon Kruger, who took the Oklahoma job. Williams-Goss listed Arizona and Washington in his top three before committing to UNLV last November.

Bennett, 6-8, 230, said recently that he has scholarship offers from UConn, Arizona, UNLV, Georgetown and Pittsburgh (among others). Bennett and Long are native Canadians following in the footsteps of former Findlay standouts Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph (both now at Texas).

NOTE: Findlay coach Mike Peck remains a strong candidate for the Arizona assistant coach vacancy created when Archie Miller became the head coach at Dayton. Peck, who recently completed his fourth year with Findlay, has let those close to him know he is hopeful to join Sean Miller‘s staff. … Sean Miller told the media Thursday that he seeks an assistant with West coast recruiting ties and that the hire likely will happen in May.

Henderson, Nev., Findlay Prep head coach Mike Peck has surfaced as a viable candidate to replace Archie Miller as an assistant coach at Arizona (Findlay Prep photo)

A source who is familiar with Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep and Archie Miller‘s decision to be the head coach at Dayton indicated to me tonight that Findlay head coach coach Michael Peck would “go to Arizona” if that situation arises.

The same reliable source told me that phone conversations have taken place between Arizona and the Findlay Prep coaching staff within “the last 48 hours.”

The source described them as “interesting calls”.

Peck, 41, recently completed his fourth year at Findlay, which is affiliated with the Henderson (Nev.) International School. His record is 122-7, including two National High School Invitational championships in 2008-09 and 2009-10.

In his first three years at Findlay, he had 17 out of 17 student-athletes graduate and qualify for NCAA Division I athletic eligibility. Those athletes are currently attending NCAA Division I programs; University of Texas, University of Illinois, Miami (OH), University of New Hampshire, Fresno State University, University of California-Berkeley, University of Kentucky, Florida State University, UNLV, University of New Mexico and Cal State Fullerton.

Arizona Class of 2011 signee Nick Johnson, a prolific scoring guard from Findlay, will play for the Wildcats next season.

Some of the most prominent players Peck has coached at Findlay include Texas point guard Cory Joseph and forward Tristan Thompson, Kentucky wing player DeAndre Liggins, Cal guard Jorge Gutierrez and Florida State guard Deividas Dulkys.

UA coach Sean Miller is also involved with the recruitment of Findlay’s Class of 2012 center Landen Lucas and 2013 guard Nigel Williams-Goss.

Peck came to Findlay Prep from UNLV, where he served for three years under Charlie Spoonhour and Lon Kruger. He served as the video coordinator for the men’s basketball program during his time at UNLV.

He was involved in all aspects of the men’s program; video editing and game breakdown, on-campus recruiting, player development, summer camp coordination and numerous administrative tasks. Prior to UNLV, Peck was an assistant coach at Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) University from 1998-2003 where he served under his former college coach and current University of Tennessee women’s assistant, Dean Lockwood.

He also served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Northwood University in Midland, Mich., from 1997-98. During these stints Peck’s primary areas of responsibility were on-floor coaching and player development.

He started his coaching career in 1995-96 where he served as the head junior varsity boy’s basketball coach at Gaylord St. Mary Cathedral High School in Gaylord, Mich. In that season, Peck was also a 4–year letter winner and two-time academic All-American at Northwood University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1993. He received his master’s degree in education from Saginaw Valley State University in 1998.

Lon Kruger's move to Oklahoma from UNLV could have an impact on Arizona in various ways (US Presswire photo/Christopher Hanewinckel)

The possibilities:

• Kruger and Arizona coach Sean Miller wanted the series between the two schools to resume, according to the Las Vegas Sun last year. With former Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood in the same capacity with the Rebels, a series between the rivals remains a possibility. A game in Las Vegas benefits Arizona from a recruiting standpoint because nationally-recognized programs Findlay Prep and Bishop Gorman High School are in the area.
• Gorman includes Arizona Class of 2012 targets Rosco Allen, Ben Carter and Shabazz Muhammad. Gorman’s head coach is Grant Rice, brother of former UNLV player David Rice, a BYU assistant who has emerged as a top candidate.
• Findlay Class of 2013 shooting guard Nigel Williams-Goss verbally committed to UNLV earlier this season because of Kruger. Williams-Goss told me in November before that commitment that Arizona, Washington and UNLV were his leaders. He said that he maintained constant contact with Arizona’s coaches, especially assistant Archie Miller. He went so far as to say that he hoped to take an unofficial visit of the UA campus. Findlay assistant Todd Simon told me Saturday morning that Williams-Goss “is not sure what he will do yet.”

Kruger’s move also could impact former UA assistant coach Mike Dunlap, currently an aide at St. John’s who is mentioned as a candidate by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Don’t count on Livengood raiding Sean Miller’s staff, namely Archie Miller, who should have his own program within two years. When Livengood underwent a coaching search for UNLV’s football program before last season he purposely stayed away from Mike Stoops‘ staff, which included former offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes at the time.

Former UCLA players Chace Stanback and Mike Moser, a former Arizona commit, transferred to UNLV because Kruger coached there. Stanback, who will be a senior, and Moser, a sophomore next year after having to sit out this season, did not attend a meeting with Kruger Friday night.

Moser, a 6-8 forward with a 7-foot wingspan from Portland, committed to Arizona in 2008 but changed his mind when former coach Lute Olson abruptly retired before the 2008-09 season. He played sparingly as a freshman at UCLA in 2009-10 before transferring to UNLV.

How snakebit do you think Moser feels right now?

Archie Miller (left, background) and his brother Sean, the head coach at Arizona, lead the Wildcats into the NCAA tournament Friday against Memphis (US Presswire photo/Chris Morrison)

How long it will take for mid-major and high-profile programs to get a piece of the Sean Miller coaching magic?

That does not include hiring Miller. He has too much of a good thing going at Arizona, the least of which his lucrative $2 million-a-year contract through 2014. Miller should become a fixture in Tucson, especially after landing a top five recruiting class (with many more like it to come) after winning the regular-season Pac-10 title a year ahead of schedule.

Miller, 42, is the second-coming of Lute Olson and I don’t mean that in a grandiose way. He became the leader of a national championship-caliber program at the right time. Olson’s leave of absence, abrupt retirement and two seasons of interim coaches preceded Miller’s opportune arrival. It is in the same realm of Olson’s hire from Iowa after Ben Lindsey almost sent the program back to the Ice Age with a 4-24 record in 1982-83.

This is ascension time for Miller at Arizona, but with consequences. With coaching vacancies an annual occurrence — this year’s lot includes openings at Oklahoma, Arkansas, North Carolina State and Georgia Tech to name a few — athletic directors will come calling, not for him, but his staff.

Atop Miller’s rank and file of assistant coaches is younger brother Archie Miller, a recruiting and strategist extraordinaire. Archie Miller’s official title is associate head coach, which signals that he is a head coach in waiting for a program somewhere.

Archie Miller is 32, the same age when Josh Pastner got his first head coaching job with Memphis before last season. Hiring young should be the trend — Jeff Capel‘s firing at age 36 at Oklahoma an anomaly — as a way for the head coach to relate better to today’s AAU-generated prospects.

Archie Miller told the AP recently that he is understanding what leading a program is all about while coaching for his brother Sean (US Presswire photo/Chris Morrison)

Moreover, an athletic director who does his homework will realize Archie Miller comes from the esteemed coaching pedigree of father John Miller, a legendary high school coach in Pennsylvania. Archie Miller also has plenty of input into what his brother does with Arizona.

Arizona All-America candidate Derrick Williams told the Associated Press last month that “sometimes Archie tries to take over.”

“But Coach Miller has his own opinions,” Williams added. “Sometimes they head butt each other, but they’re two great coaches and they always end up doing what’s best for the team.”

It took only three years for Olson to lose his first assistant coach after resurrecting the Arizona program. Ken Burmeister, who came to Tucson with Olson from Iowa in 1983, departed before the 1986-87 season for Texas-San Antonio. A year after that, another Olson aide from Iowa — Scott Thompson — took the Rice job.

Ricky Byrdsong (1988 to Detroit Mercy) and Kevin O’Neill (1989 to Marquette) were the next Olson assistants to land head coaching jobs within Arizona’s formative years under Olson.

Archie Miller’s time is now if you go by these examples of Wildcat assistants advancing in their profession. Their ages at the time of their hire after leaving Arizona — Burmeister 39, Thompson 33, Byrdsong 32 and O’Neill 32.

Some may argue that perhaps they were hired too early — especially Thompson, who never found his niche at Rice, Wichita State or Cornell. That argument has no substance with his own brother Sean Miller as an example. He was hired as head coach at Xavier at the young age of 35 after 10 years of work as an assistant. He coached the Musketeers to an Elite Eight appearance in 2008, four years after his hire.

Archie Miller, completing his sixth year as an assistant at N.C. State, ASU, Ohio State and Arizona, has the smarts, intensity, recruiting ability and work ethic to be similarly successful before he reaches 40. When he talked to the Associated Press last month, Archie Miller sounded like a coach working his way up and out of Tucson.

“We grew up in the same house, we coach the same way in a lot of aspects, and him being able to teach me and help run a program, why you do certain things, I felt like that would be the final piece to understanding what it’s all about,” Archie Miller said.

How soon will Archie Miller climb the ladder? It could happen after the season concludes, or possibly after next season. Don’t count on him being around too much longer.

The same can be said of UA assistant coaches James Whitford and Book Richardson, both of whom will likely ride the wave of Sean Miller’s success at Arizona into their own gigs down the road, possibly within five years.

Richardson already was reported as a potential assistant coach at Kentucky, Rutgers and St. John’s last summer. The rumors should continue this offseason.

“We have a great staff that is very loyal,” Sean Miller said last summer when asked about the rumors involving Richardson as an assistant coach elsewhere. “Our staff knows that Arizona is a great place to coach and Tucson is a nice place to live.

“The coaching opportunities are flattering and they are to be expected. What’s best for the individual is what’s most important.”

LAS VEGAS — Arizona assistant coach Archie Miller could not attend Saturday night’s double-overtime thriller between Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep and Las Vegas Bishop Gorman here because of a prior engagement in Pullman, Wash.

So Miller went to his next-best option knowing that some recognizable coaches would be in attendance at Cox Pavilion, which is adjacent to Thomas and Mack Arena, UNLV’s home arena. Lon Kruger and his Rebels staff were among the many collegiate coaches watching the prospects on the Findlay and Gorman rosters.

More appropriately, these coaches attended Findlay’s 89-86 victory to be seen by the players and the parents or guardians.

With Arizona’s staff in the Palouse coaching the Wildcats to their most important victory in the brief Sean Miller Era, what was their best way to compete against the scenario of UCLA coach Ben Howland sitting courtside next to Jerry Tarkanian?

What was their answer for Washington coach Lorenzo Romar and Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford walking on the court after the game in plain view?

Findlay guard Nick Johnson, a Class of 2011 signee with Arizona, became an extension of the Wildcat coaching staff. He not only had the task of guarding potential McDonald’s All-American Shabazz Muhammad of Bishop Gorman, but also show Muhammad’s teammates — Class of 2012 standouts Rosco Allen and Ben Carter — what could lie ahead if they team with Johnson at Arizona.

“I talked to Archie and he said just go at them,” said Johnson, when asked about playing against the potential future teammates. “Archie said, ‘Make them see what they are still missing.’ I mean, they are young bucks still. We are recruiting them. It would be huge to get them.”

Some of the more optimistic Arizona fans believe the “them” Johnson is talking about should include Muhammad, a slender yet strong 6-foot-6, 205-pound, Class of 2012 wing player who is garnering interest from the nation’s elite including North Carolina, Duke, UCLA, Kentucky and Texas. Memphis, coached by former UA player and assistant coach Josh Pastner, is also aggressively recruiting him.

Muhammad contends that he includes Arizona on his list, but even his high school coach Grant Rice insinuated to me after Saturday night’s game that the Wildcats are not in his immediate plans.

“Nick playing against Shabazz tonight was a good individual matchup,” Rice said. “They will probably play each other again in college at some point.”

The Johnson-Muhammad matchup was worth the $10 ticket fans purchased to attend the thrill-a-minute game at Cox Pavilion. Rice said the fee to occupy Cox Pavilion for what was billed “The Big City Showdown” was $9,000.

“Can you believe that?” Rice said incredulously to Findlay assistant coach Todd Simon after the game. “$9,000.”

The way the game concluded, the price actually seems like a bargain.

The standing-room-only crowd in excess of 3,100 was entertained with Johnson trying to contain Muhammad from the start to the end of the game when Texas-bound guard Myck Kabongo drew defenders and kicked the ball out to an open Kevin Kaspar for the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Nick is a great player, a Micky D All-American (McDonald’s All-American),” said Muhammad, who finished with 32 points, scoring 12 of them in the two overtime sessions after Johnson fouled out. “It’s tough to play against him on the offensive end, just trying to go to the basket on him. He was doing a really good job on defense.”

Findlay coach Mike Peck kept Johnson on Muhammad for most of the game. Simon said Findlay could have used others from time to time on Muhammad, who is similar to Arizona’s Derrick Williams in that he prides himself going to the free-throw line as much as making a highlight-reel dunk.

Johnson, however, wanted the exclusive assignment, although he realized the crowd’s reaction to Muhammad could have an effect on how the referees called the game.

“We knew coming in that this is Las Vegas, this is his hometown,” Johnson said. “He’ll get everything, and he did. But I think I made him work for every shot and that’s a good thing. We came out with the ‘W’, that’s all that matters to me.

“I just guarded (Syracuse-bound) Michael Carter-Williams and (Oklahoma State signee) LeBryan Nash (at the HoopHall Classic in Springfield, Mass.) so I’ve had some big matchups. So it was nothing really.”

The task of containing Muhammad affected Johnson on the offensive end, according to Simon, because of the attention necessary to stay between Muhammad and the basket on defense. Rice also trapped Johnson on the perimeter when he tried to set up for the three or make a drive to the basket.

Johnson, who finished with a season-low 10 points, did not make his first field goal until 37 seconds remained in the third quarter.

“He’s our defensive stopper; he draws those assignments,” Simon said. “In the process, he occasionally sacrifices his offensive game, which is unbelievable. He’ll have a bright future because he can do that for a team.”

Muhammad forced plenty of off-balanced shots against Johnson, who at 6-3 gives up a couple of inches. As the game progressed, Muhammad tried to take Johnson more off the dribble all the way to the hoop and draw the foul. The referees increasingly called fouls on most possessions from the fourth quarter on.

“Nick is an unbelievable defender and Shabazz took that personally,” Rice said. “It was a great matchup between two McDonald’s All-American type players going at it. It was fun to watch. Shabazz is a little bigger than Nick, and Shabazz competes with everybody.”

After fouling out early in the first overtime session, Johnson became a spectator like so many others in the cramped gym. As a competitor in the same vein as Muhammad, it was excruciating for Johnson to occupy a seat on the bench and not be able to help his teammates. That pain was detectable on Johnson’s face.

Findlay managed to win thanks to the athleticism of point guard Myck Kabongo, who finished with 26 points and created scoring opportunities for others with his quickness off the dribble. When Kaspar nailed the game-winning three off the Kabongo feed, Johnson was one of the first Findlay players to rush the floor and hug Kaspar at midcourt.

“Honestly, I would hate to be a coach and sit and watch the game like that,” Johnson said with a laugh. “I wanted to be out there so badly. It was definitely difficult. We were working all game. I trusted my teammates and I knew we would come out on top.”

Washington guard Isaiah Thomas had an air of confidence looking over Arizona's defense despite his listed height of 5-foot-9 (US Presswire photos/Mike Nelson)

The one constant in Arizona’s four losses this season: The Wildcats did not have an answer for the opponent’s marquee player or players.

Kansas twins Markieff and Marcus Morris combined for 31 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the field in the Jayhawks’ 87-79 win on Nov. 27 in Las Vegas.

BYU All-American guard Jimmer Fredette had 33 points (on 11 of 22 shooting from the field) and nine rebounds on Dec. 11 at Salt Lake City.

Oregon State’s Jared Cunningham, a viable All-Pac-10 player, scored 18 points on only 3 of 10 shooting but he nailed 10-of-11 free throw attempts on Jan. 2 in Corvallis.

And Thursday night during Arizona’ 85-68 loss to Washington in Seattle, Isaiah Thomas — who just might steal that Pac-10 Player of the Year honor from Derrick Williams — gave a clinic on how to break down an opponent’s defense.

Thomas used ball-screens and his quickness off the dribble to penetrate and score 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting with 10 assists (with one turnover) and six rebounds.

“Some of their other players are very good, but Thomas has an amazing ability to use ball screens to score himself or get other people in a position to score,” Milller told reporters afterward. “It is much simpler to stop a player from doing one of the two, but when he can do both its almost impossible. Washington does a great job putting players in the right position, and some of their best baskets came off Thomas passes.

“When he has the ball in his hands, a lot of bad things happen for you.”

Things got bad for Arizona against Thomas, especially in a hostile environment with an unfavorable defensive track record (particularly on the perimeter) this year.

A significant factor contributing to Arizona’s “milk-and-cookies defense” is the lack of stoppers on the perimeter, where the development of the opposing offense starts. Milk and cookies refers to Miller joking early this season that the Wildcats offered the opponent milk and cookies to the opposing best player a year ago.

Entering this weekend’s games, Arizona ranked last in the Pac-10 in steals with only 18 in five league games. Cunningham had a league-leading 20 on his own. Overall, the Wildcats were No. 8 in turnover margin (minus-0.3) while Washington was No. 1 (plus-4.3).

Why are steals and turnovers so important to Arizona’s execution on offense and defense? They can lead to transition baskets on the other end, thereby making those darn 2-3 zones obsolete. They can make the primary ballhandler — the point guard — that much more of a necessary focal point, finding the open man for higher percentage shots.

The lack of these opportunities is a significant reason why Lamont “MoMo” Jones has struggled to stay afloat with his assist-to-turnover ratio. He can be efficient in the open court, but has not been afforded many chances to operate that way.

The Morris twins, Fredette, Cunningham and Thomas got a majority of their points by getting good looks at the basket in transition or by simply breaking down Arizona’s defense in their halfcourt sets. Not one of these players had an off-night against the Wildcats.

That should cause plenty of concern for Miller, who will guide his team Saturday against two potential All-Pac-10 players in Klay Thompson and DeAngelo Casto of Washington State.

When Washington started to pull away in the last five minutes Thursday, the Fox Sports Net cameras caught fiery UA assistant Archie Miller laying into the Wildcats about their defensive effort, or lack thereof. The younger Miller, who will be a head coaching candidate somewhere at season’s end (North Carolina State anyone?), did not need to, ahem, curse or point fingers at anyone.

His stare alone caused the temperature to dip inside old Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

Arizona, although ranked No. 25 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll this week, has not turned the corner. The Wildcats have not shown the ability to beat college basketball’s elite the last couple of years.

Until the UA puts a stopper on the perimeter in the same mold as Kenny Lofton, Reggie Geary, Jason Terry and Jason Gardner, the Wildcats will remain a fringe team and program. Guys like Lofton, Geary, Terry and Gardner cared more than anything about the most significant number of the game — the final score — not their point production or minutes played.

By the way, WildAboutAZCats.com and another partner — SteveRiveraVentures.com — have a promotion running this season with Tino’s Pizza in Tucson. During any UA men’s hoops game (like tonight), order any large pizza (dine-in or carryout) get a discount of $2. Tino’s Pizza was voted as the Best Eastside Pizzeria by the Tucson Weekly last year.

Before we head into the matchups portion of what WildAboutAZCats.com has to offer, here are the Pac-10 ratings (according to Ken Pomeroy at KenPom.com) and upcoming game for each team (Red-highlighted games indicate important RPI games vs. a higher-rated non-conference opponent):

No. 5 Washington (6-3) vs. No. 206 Nevada, Wed., Dec. 22
No. 19 Arizona (9-2) vs. No. 72 N.C. State, today
No. 33 Washington State (7-1) at No. 162 Santa Clara, today
No. 57 UCLA (5-4) vs. No. 221 Montana State, Tues., Dec. 21
No. 63 USC (6-5) at No. 25 Tennessee, Tues., Dec. 21
No. 80 California (6-4) vs. No. 2 Kansas, Wed., Dec. 22
No. 85 Arizona State (5-4) vs. No. 118 Long Beach State, Tues., Dec. 21
No. 101 Oregon (7-4) vs. No. 251 Idaho, Tues., Dec. 21
No. 102 Stanford (6-3) at No. 49 Oklahoma State, Tues., Dec. 21
No. 199 Oregon State (4-6) vs. No. 212 Illinois-Chicago, Wed., Dec. 21

Matchups

North Carolina State point guard Javier Gonzalez had a team-high 18 points last year against Arizona, including 10 in the last 30.4 seconds (US Presswire photo/Bob Donnan)

PERIMETER

N.C. STATE

What’s going right: Scott Wood leads the ACC in three-pointers per game (3.0) and is eighth in three-point percentage (.429). Wood has averaged 11.0 points over his last five games, hitting a total of 19 three-pointers in those games. He has at least one three-pointer in every game this season.

What’s going wrong: Javier Gonzalez and Wood have combined to shoot 40.9 percent (36-88) from three-point range, but the rest of the team is shooting just 19.6 percent (10-51) combined.

ARIZONA

What’s going right: Kyle Fogg is struggling with his shot, making only 34.2 percent of his field goal attempts (lowest on the team) but at least he tries to get others involved. He is tied for sixth in the Pac-10 in assist-to-turnover ratio — 1.6 (34 assists and 20 turnovers)

What’s going wrong: Fogg and Lamont “MoMo” Jones are the opposite of Wood and Gonzales, making only 30 percent of their three-point attempts (21 of 70). More of an indictment of Arizona’s offensive execution, or lack thereof, Jones has only two assists in the last two games.

Who has the edge?: N.C. State. Neither tandem has overwhelmed the opposition this season although who can forget how Gonzalez scored a team-high 18 points, with 16 of his points coming in the second half and 10 in the final 30.4 seconds of the game?

FRONTCOURT

N.C. STATE

What’s going right: High-profile Class of 2010 recruit C.J. Leslie, whose mother communicated with UA assistant Book Richardson during the recruiting process, has averaged 13.3 points and 12.3 rebounds over the last three outings, recording two double-doubles in that span. Against Youngstown State on Wednesday, Leslie had team highs of 14 points and 19 rebounds. The 19 rebounds tie for the second-most rebounds in a game by an NC State freshman.

What’s going wrong: In the eight games since Smith was injured, post player DeShawn Painter has averaged a somewhat pedestrian 7.5 points and 5.4 rebounds in 23.6 minutes per contest

ARIZONA

What’s going right: The shooting overall of Derrick Williams, Jamelle Horne and Solomon Hill is rather impressive — 55.6 percent from the field and 53.9 from three-point range.

What’s going wrong: Horne, expected to be a leader his senior season, averages the fewest amount of minutes (20.5) among starters. His unforced errors against NAU — tipping in a basket on the wrong end and making a turnover inbounding the ball — helped keep the Lumberjacks close.

Who has the edge?: Arizona. Leslie’s performance of late with the Wolfpack is impressive, especially with Smith out of the lineup. But there’s no denying Williams’ impact on a game. He ranks in the top 10 in the Pac-10 in scoring, rebounding, field-goal percentage, three-point field-goal percentage and blocked shots. Imagine how more dangerous he could be if Horne and Hill were more consistent with their contribution?

BENCH

Kevin Parrom (guarding UCLA's Tyler Honeycutt here last year) is one of the most productive players on Arizona's bench on both sides of the court (US Presswire photo/Gary A. Vasquez)

N.C. STATE

What’s going right: Despite not starting a game this season, freshman guard Ryan Harrow is currently tied for the team lead in scoring at 11.1 points per game. Over his last two games, Harrow is averaging 17.0 points, including a season-best 20 against USC Upstate. Harrow did not break double figures in any of the four games prior to that and averaged 6.3 points a game.

What’s going wrong: Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe has only nine scholarship players at his disposal with Smith likely out of the lineup. Lowe sticks to only playing 10 players.

ARIZONA

What’s going right: Kevin Parrom might be in the starting lineup soon based on his recent performance, especially in the Fiesta Bowl Basketball Classic against NAU. He was selected the Most Valuable Player after posting a career-high 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. He connected on 5-of-10 field goal, including 3-of-6 from three-point range, and tallied the go-ahead bucket with 51 seconds remaining. His 26 minutes equaled a season high.

What’s going wrong: Jesse Perry‘s shooting performance is one of the sore spots of the Wildcats right now as he is making only 36.1 percent from the field, including only 1-of-7 from three-point range.

Who has the edge?: Even. Lowe’s bench might get a little more strained than Sean Miller’s but Harrow’s performance is impressive. Sophomore power forward Richard Howell is also an accomplished rebounder, posting 11 in an important victory over George Mason earlier this season.

COACHING

Can’t help but believe that many North Carolina State fans will look at the coaching staffs and wish things could have fallen into place for the Millers — Sean and Archie — to still be on their side. Sean Miller was an assistant coach with the Wolfpack for five seasons (1997-01) on Herb Sendek‘s staff. Miller and current N.C. State assistant Larry Harris were on the staff together for each of Miller’s five seasons in Raleigh. Archie Miller played and later coached at N.C. State. The younger Miller played for the Wolfpack from 1998-2002, earning a medical redshirt season in 1999. He then served as Director of Operations under Sendek in 2004 and 2005. He was an assistant coach in 2006. During his playing career, Miller connected on 42.8 percent (218-509) from three-point range, including a 57.5 (59-102) percent mark in 2001, the second-best season in school history. Advantage: Arizona. Miller is one of the more promising young coaches in the nation while Lowe, 77-65 in five seasons, is likely in a do-or-die situation this year.

OUTCOME

Arizona has to win a meaningful non-conference road game at some point under Sean Miller. Arizona’s three most significant non-conference games on the road in the brief Miller era have all been lopsided losses for the Cats: Oklahoma (79-62) and San Diego State (63-46) last year and BYU (87-65) this year. A win over N.C. State in Raleigh, albeit without Smith (if he is scratched from the lineup), can be one of those turn-the-corner victories for Miller and the Wildcats. The key will be rebounding, limiting the Wolfpack’s second chances. NAU burned the Cats in that regard in the first half Thursday. If N.C. State dominates the offensive glass at home, it will be a long day for Arizona. The Wildcats rise to the challenge and come home 75-70 victors.

• Arizona’s chance to land Class of 2012 prospect not out of reach
• Eric Cooper Sr. reliving the recruiting process with Arizona again 25 years later

Grant Jerrett and Eric Cooper Jr. smile for the camera during LaVerne (Calif.) Lutheran media day last month. Photo courtesy of Eric Cooper Sr.

Huntington Beach (Calif.) High School coach Jim Harris, a 31-year coaching veteran in California, indicated to me last year that Arizona coach Sean Miller is not too far off from establishing a recruiting base in the West.

“Lute (Olson) was very much into recruiting this area, partly because he coached high school basketball around here,” said Harris, who coaches against Santa Ana Mater Dei, a program that has turned out former UA standouts Miles Simon, Reggie Geary and junior center Alex Jacobson.

“He knew a lot of us coaches who have been around a while. When he expressed interest in a player, he got the information and help he needed because of his connections. Coach Miller is starting to do that.

“Arizona is a national university as far as basketball is concerned. All that needs to happen now is for Coach Miller to lay the groundwork in California and be consistent in recruiting this area. I can certainly see him doing that consistently.

“A lot of the coaches and players in California have that same positive feeling about Arizona as before and that’s partly because of Coach Miller. He’s off to an impressive start.”

Harris’ comments were last November before Miller beat Kansas for high-profile Sacramento (Calif.) High School guard Josiah Turner. Nick Johnson, a program changer from Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep, also signed with UA after comitting in August.

Class of 2013 guard Eric Cooper Sr. was named recently the Team USA Developmental National Team

In his first recruiting class at Arizona, amassed in a mere three months, Miller inked California products Derrick Williams and Solomon Hill, both of whom are significant reasons why Arizona is 5-0 with a winning margin of 30.6 points heading into tonight’s game against No. 6 Kansas.

In his second class, Miller signed Phoenix North guard Daniel Bejarano (a former Texas commit) and Los Angeles (Calif.) Westchester High School point guard Jordin Mayes, who should evolve into one of the better freshmen in the Pac-10 this season.

Before Miller moved from Xavier to Arizona, he did not recruit a player west of the Mississippi. His recruiting focus was on Ohio and other parts of the Midwest in addition to the East coast with New York-based AAU director Book Richardson on his staff.

Miller now has his first Five-Star recruit overall in Turner for the Class of 2011. News broke this morning from Dave Telep of Scout.com that Miller has achieved commitments from Class of 2012 forward Grant Jerrett and Class of 2013 guard Eric Cooper Jr.

Jerrett, a Five-Star prospect, and Cooper play at La Verne (Calif.) Lutheran for former UA player Eric Cooper Sr. They are slated to announce their commitment tonight at a press conference at Lutheran.

Cooper Sr. told me in July that Jerrett, who stands at 6-9 and has a wingspan of 7-1, is a coach’s dream.

Grant Jerrett is only a junior who figures to grow more than where he is at now 6-9 with a 7-1 wing span

“He’s not an egomaniac,” Cooper Sr. said.

“He’s not concerned with being the superstar but he’s going to be a superstar. He does not take bad shots. I tell him just be a player and be an impossible matchup. If you’re on a big, take him outside. If the guy guarding you is small, take him inside. Dirk Nowitzki does that in the NBA.”

Cooper Jr., added to the the Team USA Developmental National Team (Under 16) earlier this fall, was unable to play during the summer AAU tournaments because of a stress fracture in his right leg.

“He got caught up in a situation where his bones are growing at the same time he had the stress fracture,” Cooper Sr. told me. “He’s growing and trying to play at the same time. The doctors feel it’s best that he take some time off to let it heal.”

Any concerns about Miller and his staff (primarily Archie Miller and James Whitford, who recruit mostly in the West) being able to sign top-notch talent in these parts can be put to bed. Miller also has a streak going against Kansas coach Bill Self for landing recruits.

Self won the battle for Baltimore’s Josh Selby last year. Miller nabbed Turner, Jerrett and Cooper Jr., all of whom were recruited by Kansas.

Belmont Shore coach Dinos Trigonis, the AAU coach for Cooper Jr. and Jerrett, indicated to media this morning that UCLA, Washington, Duke, USC and Texas expressed a strong interest in both of them. North Carolina coach Dean Smith was also the Tar Heels’ primary recruiter for Jerrett. He attended most of Jerrett’s games during the summer in Las Vegas.

Comments from recruiting guru Van Coleman, the editor of Hoopmasters.com, on Jerrett and Cooper Jr.:

On Jerrett: “He is a talented face-up junior, who Hoopmasters has rated as No. 24 in the Class of 2012. He is just coming into his own as a dominate face-up player. He can handle and create drive or pop 15 to 17 footers off the dribble. As he gets stronger, he will become an impact talent in the Pac-10.”

On Cooper Jr.: “He is a rangy 6-4 combo guard who has tools to mature into a point at the next level. He is currently rated our No. 35 sophomore. He has the ability to score from three or off the dribble and is becoming a solid passer off the dribble. He will be an immediate contributor down the road for the Cats.”

Verbal commitments are non-binding. Miller and has staff are unable to comment about Jerrett and Cooper Jr. per NCAA rules.

Rosco Allen

LAS VEGAS — Rosco Allen received a pass on the wing during a workout session Thursday night at Bishop Gorman High School and aggressively attacked the basket past a defender like a guard, not a 6-foot-8-inch forward.

UCLA coach Ben Howland, in attendance to watch Allen and fellow Class of 2012 standout Shabazz Muhammad, is accustomed to watching Allen belie his height and handle the ball without difficulty.

What Allen did next after driving past the defender is an uncommon sight for any coach watching this generation of recruits: He laid the ball in rather than attempt a highlight-reel dunk. His father, Daniel Allen, credits that style of play to his son’s basketball development in Hungary, where the family lived regularly until moving to Las Vegas five years ago. They still own a house in Budapest and travel there often.

“The game is a little bit different there in Europe,” Daniel Allen told me. “It’s a little more physical, a little more fundamental. That’s why you’ll hardly ever see him dunk the ball. He’d rather make a three-pointer. He tells me that he’ll take three points over two any day.”

The name Dirk Nowitzki does not conjure images of a 7-foot dunking machine, although he is among the taller basketball players in the NBA. The German-born player is known for his perimeter play, including the three-point shot, because of his European background.

Rosco Allen, a Hungarian-American, who is likely to grow to at least 6-10 by the time he graduates from Gorman in two years, embodies some of the same characteristics as Nowitzki on the court.

“Working from the wing, I feel most comfortable,” the younger Allen said. “I know I can post up if I have to, or if there is a smaller player on me. Being able to play inside and out has helped me become a better basketball player.

“Growing up in Hungary helped me because all I did there was play point guard.”

Since he was a freshman at Gorman, Allen said he has grown seven inches. The growth spurt has not hindered his coordination.

“I think he is still growing,” the elder Allen said. “You look at him, and he’s still just a kid. The weight will come (he is listed at 205 pounds). He’ll find it somehow, especially with colleges like Arizona that have a great weight-training facility.

“The Arizona coaches have told us that they have kids come in and they put 15 to 20 pounds on them. That’s something that will definitely be good for Rosco’s stature.”

UA coach Sean Miller, who hosted the Allens during an unofficial visit to McKale Center in early June, was not in attendance Thursday night. Miller and assistant coaches Archie Miller and Book Richardson were busy at the time with an in-home visit with 5-star point guard Josiah Turner in Sacramento.

Attempts to reach the Turners were unsuccessful. Per NCAA rules, Miller and his staff can not talk to the media about the visit. History suggests the visit with Turner went well because recruits, such as Rosco Allen, are enamored with Miller’s straight-forward style.

“The thing I like about him the most is his honesty,” the younger Allen told me. “He’s been on me from the beginning, and he’s been upfront with me about how I would fit into his system. They like to run and that fits my style.”

The elder Allen went so far as to call Sean Miller “brilliant”.

“I thought Coach Miller was brilliant when we visited there,” he said. “He told us that Rosco is the first kid he didn’t have to apologize to about the heat in Tucson because we live in Vegas. He has a great sense of humor.

“I was fascinated overall with the visit,” he continued. “That school, being at the center of a million people, was interesting. It is the mecca for all of those people, whether it’s cultural arts, ballet, drama, basketball or football … Those people rally around that school.

“There’s some great places to eat, too. Rosco will eat anything if it’s free. If he does not have to cook it, he’ll eat it.”

Miller told Gorman coach Grant Rice that he will watch Allen, Muhammad and Class of 2012 forward Ben Carter, among others, work out Saturday. Miller was in Las Vegas earlier in the day visiting Class of 2011 commit Nick Johnson at Findlay Prep in Henderson. The Wildcats are also recruiting Class of 2012 center Landen Lucas from Findlay.

Kentucky coaches will also be in attendance Saturday at Bishop Gorman, according to Rice. Coaches from ASU, North Carolina, Cal and Stanford will be at the school Friday.

Former UA player and assistant coach Josh Pastner, now the head coach at Memphis, was in attendance Thursday along with Tigers assistant Jack Murphy, a former UA student manager. They were on hand mostly to watch Muhammad and former Marana Mountain View forward Demetris Morant, a junior who transferred to Gorman this summer. Arizona is also recruiting Morant.

Duke assistant coach Steve Wojciechowski was also there Thursday to observe Muhammad and Muhammad’s younger brother Rashaad, a freshman point guard.

Coaches other than Howland who observed Allen on Thursday — the start of the off-campus contact period for coaches until Oct. 5 — included Utah coach Jim Boylen and a Harvard assistant. Allen’s father beams when talking about his son’s recruitment by Harvard, Northwestern and Stanford.

“His (3.85) GPA is very good,” the elder Allen said. “As parents, we are more proud of that than what he’s done in basketball. Even if you make the pros, by the time you’re 35 or 36, you’re no longer at that level. His education will allow him to be prepared for that.”

Daniel Allen added that his son could play in Hungary’s equivalent of the NBA D-League now. Rosco was born in Budapest. His mother his Hungarian. His parents met when Daniel Allen, a San Francisco native, lived in Europe for 20 years, part of which was spent playing basketball.

The elder Allen said the level of talent in Hungary goes from the NB1 league to the NB2 and then the NB3.

“Teams similar to say the Lakers and Warriors here bring in young players to develop,” he said. “They come in and play and once they’re ready, they climb the ladder. There’s no college recruiting like over here. Rosco has a couple of friends who grew up with him who are playing in the NB1 right now. He’s actually been told that they’d like him to go over and play in the NB1 because even at his age (16) he can play in the NB1 over there.”

The younger Allen chuckled about the thought of earning a paycheck by playing in Hungary right now.

“I liked living there,” he said, “but I like playing in the U.S. a lot more.”

Nick Johnson poses with UA coach Sean Miller (right) and assistant Archie Miller after committing to the Wildcats on Wednesday afternoon (Johnson family picture posted on his Facebook page)

Following a game at the Fab 48 tournament last month in Las Vegas, a local reporter asked Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep guard Nick Johnson about where UNLV factors into his recruitment.

Johnson did his best impression of a politician dancing the line on a hot topic and went with, “Well, I wouldn’t say I’ve ruled them out. They’re still recruiting me. I still hear from them every now and again. …”

Johnson then looked my way knowing that I covered UA athletics — it was only me and the Las Vegas Sun reporter talking to him — and he said, “I mean, I’m not sure right now. If I get one (program) that I feel like it will be best for me, I might commit right there. But who knows?”

He then smiled. Turns out he got this urge and committed right there — to Arizona on Wednesday. Now I understand the subliminal message he was sending. Johnson and his mother Michelle surprised the UA coaching staff with an impromptu appearance at McKale Center to announce his intentions.

The most significant aspect of Johnson’s commitment in terms of the program’s image: Arizona has not skipped a beat from Lute Olson to Sean Miller when it comes to recruiting top-notch in-state talent. Any chance ASU coach Herb Sendek thought he might get with top in-state players because of Olson’s retirement is not apparent.

Johnson is from Gilbert, and although he attends the Henderson International School while playing for Findlay, he tells people that he is still endeared to his former school, Gilbert Highlands.

When Phoenix North shooting guard Daniel Bejarano de-committed from Texas last year and immediately considered Arizona and ASU, he told me he wanted in-state players to become either Wildcats, Sun Devils or Lumberjacks.

“That goes for Nick Johnson and Matt Carlino, too,” Bejarano said, referring to the former Highlands teammates who left the state (Carlino played at Bloomington, Ind., South High School last season before signing with UCLA).

“I de-committed (from Texas) because I thought I would be better off playing in my home state in front of my fans, family and friends who have always been there. To me, that’s the right thing to do. I hope guys like Nick and Matt will feel the same way.”

Bejarano and Johnson will become Arizona teammates in 2011-12. The Phoenix-to-Tucson pipeline of heralded prospects, started by Olson with Mike Bibby in 1996, continues. Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye and Jerryd Bayless followed. Bibby, Jefferson, Frye and Bayless became NBA lottery picks.

Miller, Archie Miller, Book Richardson and James Whitford are seemingly book-ending their talent from Arizona and New York. Johnson joins Bronx product Sidiki Johnson in the Class of 2011. Sidiki Johnson, also verbally committed to Arizona, will play his senior season at Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy. He will join fellow New Yorkers Kevin Parrom and Lamont “MoMo” Jones.

Nick Johnson will join Arizona products Bejarano and Mesa Mountain View alum Brendan Lavender.

The possibility remains that Mesa point guard Jahii Carson will join the Wildcats as well. He has already unofficially visited ASU and is tentatively scheduled to officially visit Arizona Sept. 17-18.

Miller, however, also has his sights on Sacramento (Calif.) point guard prospect Josiah Turner, who was a teammate of Johnson’s during the summer with the Oakland/Drew Gooden Soldiers. Turner’s interest in the Wildcats is not only because of Miller and the school’s history of producing NBA point guards such as Bibby. One significant reason: Nick Johnson.

“We play well together,” Turner told me after a Fab 48 tournament game. “Nick’s a good player. He gets you involved. I’ve become better playing with him.”

The rumor mill suggests Turner is down to two programs: Kansas and Arizona. Turner has scheduled officials visits to Louisville (Sept. 4), UConn (Sept. 10-11), Oregon (Sept. 17), Kansas (Oct. 15) and Arizona (Oct. 22-23). Kansas and Louisville appear to be the UA’s prime competition. Johnson also scheduled official visits with those programs before committing to Arizona. Could Turner follow Johnson’s lead?

Another Class of 2011 point guard recruit, Quinn Cook of Oak Hill Academy, lists Arizona as one of his seven finalists, but he has yet to schedule official visits with any schools.

The magnitude of Johnson’s commitment for Miller is significant because of the guard’s popularity with other players, including Turner. The newest member of the Findlay program, Class of 2012 center prospect Landen Lucas, told me last month during the adidas Super 64 in Las Vegas that playing with Johnson, “is definitely something I’m looking forward to.”

“I have not personally met him, but I played against him in camps,” Lucas said. “I’m looking forward to getting to know him. I am sure he has a lot of great things to say about Arizona.

“I’m sure he’ll get me some looks, but I think I can open up a lot of things for him, too. We’ll work together just fine. You never know if we’ll end up at the same college.”

Even at that time, before Nick Johnson announced his commitment, another prospect was hinting about Johnson’s admiration for the Arizona program.

We should have seen this coming.

Miller and his staff, who have recruited Johnson mightily since arriving in Tucson only 16 months ago, had an idea this day would come. They probably are pinching themselves, however, to make sure this is not a dream.

On the 25th anniversary of Sean Elliott‘s signing with Arizona out of Cholla High School, another in-state product can become the face of the program like Elliott became during the UA’s first Final Four run in 1987-88.