Video: Arizona basketball commitsSee DeAndre Ayton, Emmanuel Akot and Brandon Randolph in action.In eight seasons at Arizona, Sean Miller has won four Pac-12 Conference regular season titles, two conference tournament titles and made five Sweet 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
All that's left for Miller in Tucson is a breakthrough to the Final Four. And let's be honest, Wildcat fans won't be totally satisfied until he delivers the program's first national title since 1997.
With a star-studded recruiting class joining three of the top four scorers from last year's 32-win team, could 2017-18 be the season?
2017 Arizona Recruiting ClassEmmanuel Akot, 6-7, 200, F, Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah)
DeAndre Ayton, 7-0, 245, C, Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Alex Barcello, 6-2, 180, G, Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.)
Ira Lee, 6-8, 225, F, Crossroads (Santa Monica, Calif.)
Brandon Randolph, 6-6, 185, G, Westtown (West Chester, Pa.)
Graphic by Social Recluse Graphx/Photos by Alik McIntosh and John Jones
Highlighted by 7-footer Ayton, Arizona's 2017 recruiting class is ranked No. 3 nationally by
247Sports behind Kentucky and Duke, respectively.
Ayton is regarded at the No. 3 overall prospect in the class. He won't be in Tucson for long, so 'Zona will be hoping for big things right away from the Bahamas native.
Akot committed to the Wildcats in March as a member of the 2018 class but recently announced he would be fast-tracking his arrival and enrolling this fall.
In-state point guard Barcello had a special four-year run at Corona del Sol. Don't be surprised if he carves out a larger-than-expected role next season.
Lee and Randolph can be eased into action thanks to the returning cast.
Allonzo Trier (17.2 points per game in 2016-17), Rawle Alkins (10.9 points per game) and Parker Jackson-Cartwright (5.9 points, 4.1 assists per game) are as good as any returning guard trio in the country.
Dusan Ristic (10.9 points, 5.5 rebounds per game) and Keanu Pinder give Miller options to pair with Ayton.
Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com has the Wildcats at No. 1 in
his latest Preseason Top 25.
