Former Xavier guard Mark Lyons is shown here going against former Duquesne guard T.J. McConnell last season. Both will be practicing against each other at Arizona next season (US Presswire photo/Frank Victores)

During Lute Olson’s golden years at Arizona, the bench players — especially those high in the rotation — could start for most Pac-10 teams.

That was as much a key to Olson’s success with the Wildcats as was his X’s and O’s and recruiting ability. Mike Bibby practicing daily against backup Jason Terry, for example, was an important element for Arizona in its championship run of 1996-97. Bibby and Terry — both veteran NBA players now — were adequately prepared for any challenge they faced that season.

The verbal commitment of former Xavier point guard Mark Lyons to Arizona on Sunday means that coach Sean Miller will experience something similar to what Olson had with Bibby and Terry. Lyons vs. former Atlantic 10 rival T.J. McConnell, a transfer from Duquesne who must sit next season per NCAA transfer rules, is Miller’s version of prolific scoring point guard Damon Stoudamire working against defensive-minded backup Reggie Geary during the 1992-93 season.

McConnell, a sophomore this season, and Lyons, a junior, were All-Atlantic 10 third-team selections. McConnell was selected to the conference’s All-Defensive team. Lyons is also a solid defender, but he prides himself on his playmaking and scoring ability. He averaged 15.1 points a game for the Musketeers. He also led Xavier in three-point shooting percentage (39.2) and attempts from beyond the arc (148, making a team-high 58).

Lyons will be immediately eligible for his senior season with the Wildcats because he is expected to fulfill his undergraduate requirements at Xavier this semester. He will enroll this summer in a master’s program at Arizona that Xavier does not offer. Although McConnell is unable to play in 2012-13, he is allowed to practice. That is a significant bonus for Miller and his coaching staff.

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Arizona coach Sean Miller says, that to this day, he draws from his experience when he played high school basketball in Pennsylvania under his father John Miller (US Presswire photo/Chris Morrison)

The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League announced earlier this month that among its 2012 Hall of Fame class is Sean Miller and his father John Miller.

The induction ceremony is to take place June 1 at Green Tree, a suburb of Pittsburgh.

John Miller was selected as a coach after a successful career at Blackhawk High School, Beaver County. Sean Miller was selected to the hall of fame as a player, despite being Arizona’s head coach. The younger Miller, one of the top point guards in WPIAL history, played for his father at Blackhawk.

The Millers shared in the euphoria of Blackhawk’s first of eight WPIAL titles in 1986. Sean Miller later played collegiately at Pitt.

“It really is an honor,” Sean Miller told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “The fact that I’m able to be inducted the same year as my father … it just makes it seem right because I am so much a product of him.”

Seven years ago, John Miller, 69, officially retired from high school coaching after 35 seasons, 29 at Blackhawk and six at Riverside. However, he continues to coach a ninth-grade Drill 4 Skill girls AAU team.

“It keeps me rolling,” John Miller told the Post-Gazette about why he continues to blow the whistle and offer direction.

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Javier Morales took first place in the 2010 Arizona Press Club’s Metro Sports Reporting category. For a different look at University of Arizona sports, check out Javier’s unique Web site: WILDABOUTAZCATS.net

Solomon Hill reacts after scoring a basket against UCLA with teammate Nick Johnson looking on. Hill and Johnson are the lone remaining consistent starters from Sean Miller's first three recruiting classes (US Presswire photo/Kevin Kuo)

Of Sean Miller‘s first three recruiting classes since 2009 — which consisted of 12 players — only five remain. Of those five who are slated to be part of the 2012-13 roster, only two have consistently started in their careers. And one of those is a player who just completed his freshman season: Nick Johnson. The other is senior-to-be Solomon Hill.

Gone prematurely from Miller’s first class are Derrick Williams (Miller’s biggest catch who jumped to the NBA after his sophomore season), Lamont “MoMo” Jones (transferred to Iona after his sophomore season), and Kyryl Natyazhko (who announced Wednesday that he will not return for his senior season so he can pursue a professional career overseas).

Daniel Bejarano, from Miller’s second class in 2010, transferred to Colorado State after playing minimal minutes as a freshman. And no longer around from last year’s heralded class is five-star point guard Josiah Turner (who announced Wednesday his intention to transfer) and Sidiki Johnson (who transferred to Providence early this season after spending time in Miller’s doghouse).

Jesse Perry, from the Class of 2010, completed his two-year career after transferring from John A. Logan (Ill.) Community College.

Other than Hill and Nick Johnson, the others who have remained on board include Kevin Parrom from the Class of 2009, Jordin Mayes from the Class of 2010 and Angelo Chol from the Class of 2011.

With Perry going the distance, that means six players — or 50 percent of Miller’s first three classes — left early. Despite this alarming rate of turnover, Miller’s team will be ranked in the top 20 next year. That’s largely because of Miller’s coaching and recruiting ability. His class of 2012 — highlighted by promising big men such as Brandon Ashley, Grant Jarrett and Kaleb Tarczewski — is rated by some experts as the best in the nation.

Will it be the best class Arizona has featured in the last 40 years? Time will tell.

As has become an annual ritual here, I have updated the ratings for each UA recruiting class since the late Fred Snowden was hired in 1972.

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