The commotion caused by fans, usually at high-powered basketball programs, over a school not having any commitments with more than four months until the Spring Signing Period begins is ridiculous. There are few fits more worthless to throw.
However, that truth has never stopped those fan bases from wondering whether things are going downhill because Coach XYZ hasn’t landed anyone with five stars next to their name. It’s always a tantrum thrown too early, and often for no real reason.
Arizona fans were the latest to show off their dismay, criticizing Sean Miller and the Wildcats’ staff for being late to the party in 2016. Just a week later, UA landed four-star power forward Lauri Markkanen to kick off their class.
The Finnish national gives Miller a replacement for five-star TJ Leaf, who surprised the college basketball world when he decommitted from UA earlier this summer. Landing a big man was paramount for Miller, who loses Kaleb Tarczewski to graduation after this season, and it looks like he’s reeled in quite the fish.
Markkanen jumps off the screen with his skill set. His ability to put the ball on the floor, knock down shots, move his feet defensively, and pass the ball all bode well for his college days. The competition level he’ll face from day one will be unlike anything he’s ever faced, to be sure, and a big test will be whether or not his foot speed can keep up defensively, as one has to think a coordinated 6’10” big man will have plenty of opportunities to showcase his offensive tool box.
