Brandon Ashley confirmed the long-held notion that he was a strong University of Arizona lean Monday by making a verbal pledge to head coach Sean Miller's Wildcats.
Brandon Ashley
Photo by Nick Koza
Club coach Derrick Artis of the Drew Gooden/Oakland Soldiers confirmed the decision, taking the No. 7 overall prospect in the Class of 2012 off the board and cementing another elite recruiting class for Miller.
"I believe he was leaning toward them early," Artis said of Ashley's affinity for Arizona. "But the recruiting process gets crazy and you can get overwhelmed. I think he felt really comfortable with Sean Miller. They developed a really good relationship and he was impressed with their ability to compete at a high level."
The 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward played last season at
Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.), leading the Dragons to a 25-7 record and an appearance in the CIF Division III state championship game. In June he announced plans to transfer to
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) and became the third player on the 2011-12 Pilot roster to commit to a Division I school.
Ashley starred for high-profile Soldiers teams over the past two summers. The Bay Area-based club team won the inaugural Fab 48 in Las Vegas last summer and reached the quarterfinals of Nike's Elite Youth Basketball League in July. The future Wildcat averaged 17.9 points per game in seven games at the EYBL's season-ending tournament in South Carolina.
"I think with his natural abilities, his God-given abilities, and the fact that he is a hard worker, he will be prepared to step in right away and contribute," Artis said. "Going to Findlay Prep where they live in the gym, working out and getting stronger – he should be ready."
Arizona also has 2012 commitments from No. 24 overall prospect
Gabe York and No. 30
Grant Jerrett, both four-star talents from California. The Wildcats also assembled an elite recruiting class in 2011 that featured Angelo Chol, Nick Johnson, Sidiki Johnson and Josiah Turner – all regarded as Top 100 seniors. Turner and Nick Johnson are also alumni of the Soldiers club program.
