Championship Round tickets will go on sale Wednesday at 9 a.m., Tucson time. They can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 866-448-7849 or through Ticketmaster.com.

The format for the 2011 2K Sports Classic features 12 teams from across the nation competing in the 17th annual event with St. John’s, Arizona, Texas A&M, and Mississippi State hosting regional round games from Nov. 7-11. The four hosts will then advance to the Championship Rounds, Nov. 17-18, at New York’s Madison Square Garden, while the remainder of the field will participate in subregionals held at campus sites.

Arizona will feature at least four people with New York City ties: assistant coach Book Richardson, juniors Lamont “MoMo” Jones and Kevin Parrom and freshman Sidiki Johnson.

Matchups for the Championship Rounds, as well as the entire bracket for the 2011 2K Sports Classic, will be announced at a later date.

The Coaches vs. Cancer program, a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), exists to leverage the strength and community leadership of the nation’s basketball coaches to raise awareness and reduce the risk of cancer while raising funds for the American Cancer Society’s fight to save lives from cancer. Since 1995, the event has raised nearly $5 million for the benefit of Coaches vs. Cancer.

Arizona Class of 2011 signee Sidiki Johnson is showing some great strides literally at Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy (ESPN3.com screen shot)

My first thought while watching the Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy game last night on ESPN2: Is that really Sidiki Johnson out there?

That’s not because I doubted the 6-foot-8-inch, 220-pound, power forward’s ability – for Arizona coach Sean Miller and assistant Book Richardson to think highly enough to recruit him, he must have skills.

From what I witnessed last summer during the AAU circuit games in Las Vegas to what I saw last night in Oak Hill’s 78-64 win over Arden (N.C.) Christ School, it looks like Johnson’s best move was joining coach Steve Smith‘s renowned program. Smith’s impact on Johnson’s work ethic and fundamentals is quite obvious.

Johnson’s pump fake-dip-swing move on the block against Duke signee Marshall Plumlee of Arden (N.C.) Christ School was particularly impressive. He showed hustle on some rebounds. And he looked like he wanted to be on the court, rather than on the bench nursing his sore knees – a departure from what I saw last summer.

In one sequence in the first half, Johnson actually motioned to Smith that he did not want to leave the court, but Smith, noticing Johnson’s fatigue, replaced him.

Read the rest of this entry at one of our partner sites: WildcatSportsReport.com

MoMo Jones brought his swagger from New York City thanks to his relationship with Book Richardson, who is vital to the program bringing in East coast talent (US Presswire photo/Chris Morrison)

Check out video of the Arizona-Cal game, including interviews, the most recent Pac-10 standings and a brief look ahead to ASU at our partner site, WILDABOUTAZCATS.com

Random thoughts while wondering about the publicity Arizona will receive next year in New York City with Lamont “MoMo” Jones, Kevin Parrom and Class of 2011 signee Sidiki Johnson playing in the Coaches Vs. Cancer event in Madison Square Garden …

>> Jones made the clutch shots against Cal — again, as he did in wins over UCLA, USC and Stanford previously — and Parrom played his breakout game with 25 career-best points. The Most Valuable Person, however, in the 107-105 triple-overtime thriller is Arizona assistant coach Book Richardson, a Queens, N.Y., native who was instrumental in Jones (Harlem) and Parrom (Bronx) leaving New York City and heading to Tucson, of all places. Arizona coach Sean Miller, knowing Richardson’s value as recruiter and communicator with coaches and parents, has entrusted Richardson to work on some of his West coast targets, including post players Angelo Chol (a Class of 2011 prospect from San Diego Hoover High School) and Brandon Ashley (2012, from Oakland Bishop O’Dowd). …

UA assistant coach Book Richardson

>> The 52 points combined by Jones and Parrom in the thriller Saturday is reminiscent of when two Detroit prep stars — Eric Money and Coniel Norman — followed former UA coach Fred Snowden from Michigan to place a mark on the Arizona program in 1972-73. Norman remains the school’s career scoring average leader (23.9) and Money is at No. 6 (18.6). Their names would not have littered Arizona’s record books, much like Jones and Parrom would not be wearing “ARIZONA” across their chest, if it weren’t for them agreeing to leave a metropolis for the desert. Jones, who produced a career-high 27 points, after the game said to reporters: “You’re not a New York guard, if you don’t want the ball at the end of the clock. Point blank, end of story.” …

>> Jones stands a good chance of being the Pac-10 Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. Trivia: Name the two Arizona Wildcats who have earned that distinction? If you said Sean Elliott and Damon Stoudamire, you are wrong. The only UA players to earn consecutive Pac-10 Player of the Week honors are Steve Kerr and Hassan Adams. Kerr was chosen the league’s top player in consecutive weeks during the 1987-88 season and Adams during the 2005-06 season. Only two players have earned three consecutive player-of-the-week honors and they are: Eddie House of ASU in the 1999-2000 season and Brandon Roy of Washington in the 2005-06 season. …

>> The Wildcats will go for their fourth consecutive road victory in the conference when they play at ASU on Sunday (by the way, ASU sports information specialist Doug Tammaro confirmed with me Saturday night that “plenty” of tickets remain). The last time Arizona achieved four straight Pac-10 road wins was in Lute Olson’s last season of 2006-07. The Wildcats won six of their last eight regular-season games that season, including five straight wins at Oregon State, Oregon, ASU, California and Stanford. …

>>Once upon a time, notching 20 wins in a season meant a certain berth in the NCAA tournament. The Wildcats (20-4 overall, 9-2 in the Pac-10) did just that against Cal — notching their 20th win — but the berth into the NCAA tournament is not yet in hand. Inclusion in the tournament is based on power ratings and strength of schedule, which are favorable for Arizona but the Wildcats must finish strong to clinch a spot in March Madness after a year’s hiatus. At least three more wins and the Wildcats can finish no worse than 12-6 in the Pac-10, which should be good enough to open the door to the NCAA tournament. If history is any indication of how things might go this season, Arizona is in for some grand results. The last time Arizona reached 20 wins this soon — by calendar date and game total — the Wildcats finished with 30 wins. The 2004-05 team that started 21-4 finished 30-7, and the 1997-98 team that won its 20th game on Feb. 5 (the same date this year’s team achieved the mark Saturday) finished 30-5. Can this year’s team reach 30 wins? The Wildcats have seven regular-season games left, including five in the state of Arizona. Then comes three potential games in the Pac-10 tourney and then the NCAA tournament. Why not?

After watching what Jones and Parrom and the rest of the Wildcats did Saturday in Berkeley, nobody can really doubt what they can do.

• 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.

Class of 2011 recruit Nick Johnson skies above the rest with college coaches observing, seated to the right. (Photo by TucsonCitizen.com/Javier Morales)

Random thoughts, July Evaluation period style:

The highest profile recruits abide by the rules. While waiting for his mother in the lobby of the Las Vegas Bishop Gorman gymnasium last weekend, Nick Johnson came face to face with Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford. It was an obvious awkward moment, but Johnson was as cool as he was on the court. NCAA rules dictate that a coach can not communicate with prospective recruits at evaluation events such as the Fab 48 in which Johnson and the Oakland/Drew Gooden Soldiers competed. Ford walked by and the two exchanged only a smile. Minutes later, after media entered the lobby, Johnson, a high-profile Class of 2011 recruit from Henderson (Nev.) Findlay reportedly favoring Arizona, said in an interview that Oklahoma State was one of his suitors. Say this for Ford: He made himself seen. Did he time his walk-by with Johnson? Maybe so, but does it really matter? …

At one of the late-night games in Las Vegas that started at 9 p.m. last week, a trio of former UA assistant coaches sat next to each other and reminisced about old times, including the 1997 NCAA championship. Late nights for coaches generally mean film sessions, and these three coaches put enough time together with former UA coach Lute Olson to learn their craft. UTEP assistant coach Phil Johnson, Stanford assistant coach Rodney Tention and Memphis head coach Josh Pastner sat side by side and shared some laughs. “It was like old times,” Tention said with a smile. “Brought back a lot of memories.” …

Johnson is adjusting from coaching in the metropolis of Los Angeles to what many of his peers consider an outpost in El Paso. “I’ll tell you this: It’s a lot harder to get kids to come through for unofficial visits than it was at USC,” Johnson said. “We had the same type of problem at Arizona, but more kids made the effort to go to Tucson because of how successful Lute made that program.” …

Johnson believes UTEP can regain the glory it had under the late, great “Bear” – Don Haskins — with Tim Floyd as head coach. “UTEP was more prestigious of a program than Arizona in college basketball before Coach Olson arrived,” he said. “We believe the program can become successful like that again.” …

New St. John’s coach Steve Lavin, the man who paved the way for Ben Howland to become a headache for Pac-10 schools at UCLA, charged his cell phone next to where I sat at the Bishop Gorman media room. Before I could idly chat with him, a camera man took the longest time selling himself to produce a video for Lavin. They exchanged phone numbers and Lavin took the time to listen to this guy and genuinely seemed like an engaging person. He even thanked me for letting him charge his cell phone by where I sat. I then had to split to do more important things, like observe Johnson and his Soldiers teammates Josiah Turner and Brandon Ashley dominate another opponent. …

Had the chance to say hello to UA assistants Book Richardson, James Whitford and Archie Miller while passing by them at the various venues. UA coach Sean Miller’s first move was adding these guys to his staff in Tucson last April when he was hired. If this is an indication of his judgment of talent, the program that Lute built is in good hands. …

The 16-hour days of watching games and discussing the prospects late into the night showed no signs of wear and tear on the staff. The success rate of the coaches attending these events is similar to a Hall of Fame baseball player getting a hit only 30 percent of the time. If two out of six top prospects sign (33 percent), for example, that’s considered a solid class. Despite the long odds, the work of the UA coaches and hundreds of others watching these recruits is an example of what Winston Churchill meant when he said, “Success is going from failure to failure, without losing enthusiasm.” …

One of the oddest sights of the tournaments in Las Vegas was Washington State assistant coach Jeff Hironaka trying to stay awake during a mid-afternoon game. He yawned about every 15 seconds. USC coach Kevin O’Neill rested his eyes for a bit in one game (or maybe he was meditating?). …

O’Neill and former Cal coach Todd Bozeman, now at Morgan State, are the only coaches I observed who did not wear their team name or colors on at least one occasion. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski wore a USA Basketball polo shirt to a D.C. Assault game that included potential recruit Quinn Cook, who Arizona is also recruiting. Because of his popularity, Krzyzewski could have shown up in a tank top and it wouldn’t have mattered. …

If image is everything, SMU coach Matt Doherty is eons behind John Calipari, who is as slick as they come when he walks around with his Kentucky sweatsuit. Doherty is sporting a long white beard these days, which is OK if he could pass for Santa Clause. So much for relating to today’s athletes, or at least trying to do so. …

New England Playaz wing player Alex Murphy, a Class of 2012 target for UA, offered me the best quote last weekend after his team lost a stunner to the Arizona Magic Class of 2012 team. His teammate Naadir Tharpe missed two free throw attempts with no time left in the 63-62 loss Saturday. The Playaz’ next game was not until three days later in Phoenix at the Duel in the Desert. Asked about the team’s plans with the time to kill, Murphy said, “I don’t know. We’re super cheesed right now. We may find somewhere to practice so we can get this one behind us.” Super cheesed? For Doherty and others who may be out of touch, according to slangsite.com, cheesed means “To be extremely angry with someone or something, extreme aggression.” …

After observing the group of coaches, the most noteworthy who turned heads included Kryzyewski, Calipari, Roy Williams, and West Virginia’s Bob Huggins to name a few. I never saw Tom Izzo. When I attended one of these events when Olson coached Arizona, he had a presence about him that dwarfed others. “Thank God Lute’s not here because that gives us all a chance,” Tention said. …

Another peculiar sight: Watching coaches check in to the Fab 48 the day before the event and hearing the volunteer workers ask coaches like Michigan’s John Beilein, “Are you a coach?” …

On the flipside of Doherty not looking so cool, one coach tried too much, in my opinion. Washington coach Lorenzo Romar wore what looked like Husky game shorts down to his knees. It would be the equivalent of Sean Miller showing up to watch the prospects wearing Nic Wise‘s knee-length shorts. …

Finally, this thought entered my mind when I was stuck in traffic en route from Bishop Gorman across town to Rancho High School: “Must be (Virginia coach and ex-WSU coach) Tony Bennett in front slowing things down.” …

Pueblo guard Mike Perez, who averaged 29 points a game as a senior, is bound for St. John's after it appeared that he would either walk on at UTEP or attend Central Arizona College (Tucson Citizen file photo)

Before the spring signing period started in April, UA coach Sean Miller entertained Rivals.com 5-star recruits from New York City and Baltimore on official visits to the Tucson campus.

Those two players — Josh Selby, a point guard from Baltimore, and Doron Lamb, a combo guard from New York — went elsewhere.

Meanwhile, two players from Tucson who play the same positions — point guard Terrell Stoglin of Santa Rita and off-guard Mike Perez of Pueblo — are headed to Maryland and New York to play Division I college basketball. Stoglin will play for the Terrapins and Perez with St. John’s, which offered him a scholarship after coach Steve Lavin saw him play Monday night in the Full Court Press All-West Camp in Los Angeles.

Funny how things work out.

Stoglin and Perez are not recruiting losses for Miller, however. If that was the case, this would be cause for alarm with the program.

The fact is Miller and his staff did not not recruit either thoroughly over the last couple years either at Xavier or in their transition from Xavier to Arizona. Although fans never want to see homegrown talent leave, Miller must be applauded for not going after a recruit simply because that player happens to be from Tucson and is capable of Division I status.

Miller has shown now in his second recruiting season with Arizona that he will only pursue those prospects that either he or a staff member have watched for a considerable amount of time (some dating back to their Xavier days).

They did not actively recruit two players that former assistant Reggie Geary practically secured before Miller was officially named head coach — Victor Rudd and JUCO player Tremayne Johnson. Rudd has transferred to South Florida after an unsuccessful freshman season with ASU and Johnson will finally be eligible for Eastern Washington next season.

Stoglin offered a strong verbal commitment to Maryland before Miller’s arrival in April 2009. Miller, a coach’s son who plays by the book, is also not one to tamper and try to sway Stoglin out of his commitment.

According to Andy Morales’ blog at TucsonCitizen.com, Perez was either headed to UTEP as a walk-on for Tim Floyd and former UA assistant Phil Johnson, or he was bound for Central Arizona College.

Lavin and former UA assistant coach Mike Dunlap, now on the St. John’s staff, did unto Tucson what Miller and assistant coach Book Richardson have done unto New York City with the signing of Kevin Parrom and Lamont “MoMo” Jones. Miller and Richardson figure to continue recruiting into Lavin’s territory because of Richardson’s AAA New York Gauchos background.

The next Division I talent to come out of Tucson? It appears to be Marana Mountain View center Demetrius Morant, a Class of 2012 prospect who is originally from Tallahassee, Fla. Miller and his staff are already heavily recruiting Morant.

Potential UA recruit Shabazz Muhammad, a Class of 2012 superstar, drew a crowd of who's who among college coaches at the adidas Invitational in Indianapolis on Tuesday

What’s more daunting, facing the background of a college-student cheering section while standing at the free-throw line, or looking up in the stands and seeing a who’s-who of college basketball coaches watch your every move?

That was the situation for top-flight Class of 2012 talent Shabazz Muhammad on Tuesday during the first day of the July evaluation period. Muhammad, of Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman, drew a crowd including the likes of UA’s Sean Miller, Roy Williams, Bill Self, Billy Donovan, Mike Krzyzewski and Ben Howland, among many others, at the adidas Invitational at Indianapolis.

The tournament is held at North Central High School, the school that former UA point guard Jason Gardner attended. Muhammad no doubt has seen Gardner’s jersey hanging in the gym. Gardner was the 1999 Mr. Indiana winner as the state’s top boys basketball player. One of Miller’s goals is to restore those kind of recruiting successes.

To some, however, the hunt for Muhammad, potentially the No. 1 recruit of his class by the time he graduates, might be similar to Arizona’s unsuccessful attempt to land Baltimore Class of 2010 standout Josh Selby (who chose to attend Kansas).

Time will tell. The Cats should be in a more favorable position, having three seasons completed under Miller when Muhammad finally plays college hoops. And Miller’s try at Muhammad might be more of symbolism than anything. It shows that Miller intends to keep the direction started by Lute Olson — the cream of the crop will continue to be a recruiting focus.

According to various reports out of Indianapolis, Muhammad, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, lived up to the expectations of the high-profile coaches. He displayed accuracy from beyond the three-point line. He showed a quick first step to the basket. He is also a tough-as-nails defender.

He scored 32 points in a losing effort for the Dream Vision AAU team against Indiana Elite.

Arizona is already in pursuit of one of Muhammad’s teammates at Bishop Gorman — small forward Roscoe Allen, a 6-7 player. Allen unofficially visited the Arizona campus last month.

Other recruiting news: Gary Randazzo, of WildcatSportsReport.com, is reporting that UA assistant coach Book Richardson is in Germany scouting Class of 2011 point guard Quinn Cook, who is playing with USA Basketball’s Under-17 team in the FIBA World Championships. Richardson’s appearance there shows how serious the Cats want Cook, who has the UA on his short list. Richardson is sharing the stands with some strong competition, however, in Hamberg. Kentucky head coach John Calipari and assistant Orlando Antigua are there as well to make themselves seen by Cook. They are also watching commits Marquis Teague and Michael Gilchrist. … Other potential UA recruits at the adidas Invitational include Class of 2012 center Isaiah Austin of Arlington (Texas) Grace Prep, Class of 2012 forward Winston Shepard of Henderson (Nev.) Findlay (who is a teammate of Muhammad with Dream Vision), and Class of 2011 guard Norman Powell of San Diego (Calif.) Lincoln.

Quinn Cook wants to visit the UA campus unofficially after a busy summer of basketball (Picture by Gary Randazzo/WildcatSportsReport.com)

Class of 2011 Five-Star point guard recruit Quinn Cook wants to become educated about Arizona, but that will have to wait until August at the earliest.

Cook, 6-foot-1 and 180, is back home in Bowie, Md., after a weekend of playing at the Pangos All-America camp in Long Beach, Calif. He was slated to unofficially visit the UA campus Monday with his AAU coach Bruce Shingler of D.C. Assault, but Shingler missed a flight to Tucson, so Cook was forced to reschedule.

The UA hosted Class of 2012 small forward Rosco Allen, a 6-foot-7 player from Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, instead. Allen is the teammate of Five-Star recruit Shabazz Muhummad, who has also shown interest in Arizona.

“I’m looking at going out there some time in August,” Cook told me Monday.

Cook admitted that he does not know much about Arizona’s program and how he would fit into the 2011-12 roster. UA coach Sean Miller said last month that UA sophomore Lamont “MoMo” Jones is his likely starter at point guard in 2010-11. Jones was recruited to Tucson as a combo guard (point guard and shooting guard).

“It’s pretty early yet,” Cook said about his recruitment by Miller and assistant Book Richardson since they left Xavier for Arizona in April 2009.

“I mean, I know Coach Miller and Richardson from when they were at Xavier, but I’ve really had no chance to study the Arizona program or the team that they have right now. They play out on the West coast and their games are on pretty late out here, so I haven’t really seen them play.”

Playing for the prestigious DeMatha High School program, Cook is a visible talent in the D.C. area. Local schools such as Maryland and Georgetown are recruiting Cook strongly along with Kansas State, Notre Dame, North Carolina State and a host of other schools.

Although Georgetown and Maryland are making a significant push, Cook said that location will not be a determining factor about which school he chooses.

“I’ll go where I can help a program and the program can help me,” Cook said. “If I have to go out West for that to happen, I will do that. If I have to stay local, I’ll do that. I’ll be looking at the best possible situation.”

Cook will attend the Chris Paul Point Guard Camp this weekend in Winston-Salem, N.C., and will report to the USA Basketball Developmental National Team workouts on June 18 in San Antonio.