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AG's Wildcat Report - Dispatches on the Wildcats, from Anthony Gimino

You might want to watch this dunk from Arizona recruit Rondae Jefferson

by on Dec. 29, 2012, under Arizona basketball

Arizona signee Rondae Jefferson, a five-star recruit, is the future at small forward for the Wildcats. Above is a video of what that future looks like.

Jefferson, from Chester (Pa.) High School, delivered this dunk in the Pete and Jameer Nelson Classic Friday night in his hometown. He grabbed the defensive rebound, started the fast break, went behind the back with his dribble to get past one defender, avoided others as he reached the lane, scooped the ball off the backboard to himself, caught it with his left hand … and slammed it home.

Jefferson later would go on to win the game in the final seconds with a spin move in the post and a reverse layup for a 63-61 victory over Imhotep Charter. Quotes from Jefferson and more details about the game are here at DelcoTimes.com.

With Arizona losing Solomon Hill and Kevin Parrom after this season, Jefferson will have a chance to immediately shine at small forward.

“Rondae is a physical player; he’s a winner,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said last month after Jefferson had signed his letter-of-intent.

“Chester High School and 4A basketball in the state in Pennsylvania … that’s as competitive as anywhere in the country. He’s a warrior.

“He’s similar to Solomon in that he can do a lot of things. He can handle the ball. I think he has a chance to be a great defensive player. He’s long; very unselfish; can pass. A player that I think is a great teammate.”

Jefferson and 6-5 shooting guard Elliott Pitts from De La Salle High in Concord, Calif., are the two players who signed with Arizona in November. Pitts is rated a four-star recruit from Scout.com and a three-star recruit from Rivals.com.

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 29th, 2012 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Arizona basketball. Tags for this post: . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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  • CarlosJM

    The difference between a program and a team right there. People of a certain stripe, especially those in and around the Phoenix area and Bristol, CT, like to say the U of A hasn’t reached elite status. When you take on all comers — at home and on the road — and don’t flinch; when you haul in Top 10 (5 is more like it) Class after Top 5 (make that No. 1) Class in recruiting; when you are ranked No. 3 with a bazillion PAC-10 (and now PAC-12) Championships, Sweet 16s, Elite 8s, Final Fours and a National Championship to your name, outstanding gentlemen like Rondae and Elliott want to be a part of that something special. It’s called being competitive. Or, if you prefer, reloading. It’s what first Snowden, then Olson and now MIller and Co. have always done. And it’s spelled E-L-I-T-E..

  • CarlosJM

    BTW Anthony, does Rondae get the FG plus the A?

    • Anthony_Gimino

      That’s a good thought, but no assist on a pass to yourself.

      • CarlosJM

        It was worth a try…Sensational highlight nevertheless. Looks like Elliott and Rondae will nicely carry on the UA tradition of long, athletic, versatile wingmen. Any word on Gordon? Interesting that Thursday’s game vs. CU is against the team that last beat UA…and ended the Cats’ season. Don’t imagine Coach Miller will have to give much of a pep talk, either. I can see the team — even at 12 and oh — havIng a players only meeting before Thursday though. I can hear Solomon, Kevin and Mark now…A perfect time for a White Out too.

  • Ernie_McCray

    So nice.

  • CarlosJM

    Check that. How could I forget Bucknell and the ’11-’12 NIT? That would be the Cats’ last loss and game last season. But for all intents and purposes, that loss to the Buffaloes in the Championship game of the PAC-12 Tourney of ’12 did the Cats in for the season, really.

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