Despite Sanctions, Arizona Still Recruiting Hard | Zagsblog
Recent Posts
About ZagsBlog
Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Follow Zags on Twitter
Couldn't connect with Twitter
Contact Zags
Connect with Zags:
Saturday / November 23.

Despite Sanctions, Arizona Still Recruiting Hard

Despite the loss of one future scholarship due to a recruiting violation, Arizona is still “battling at the highest level” for 2010 prospects Doron Lamb, Josh Selby and Kadeem Jack, a source close to the Arizona basketball program said. 

The source said Arizona would lose the scholarship for the 2011 class and would still theoretically have enough room for all three players should they elect to come play for the Wildcats.

The 6-4 Lamb (pictured), a Queens, N.Y. native playing at Oak Hill Academy, recently cut his list to Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky and West Virginia. A McDonald’s All-American, Lamb is expected to announce after the NCAA tournament.

The 6-2 Selby, out of Lake Baltimore (Md.) Clifton, is considering several schools, including Arizona, Syracuse, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and UConn. Sources indicate Arizona and Kansas lead.

The 6-9 Jack from Manhattan Rice is still in the early stages of his recruitment, but recently took his first official visit to the Arizona campus.

FoxSports.com reported that Arizona is expected to self-impose sanctions that include the loss of a future scholarship and a reduction of recruiting days in July and in on-campus official visits. An official announcement could come Friday, FoxSports.com reported.

The violations are connected to an AAU basketball tournament known as the Cactus Classic, held in May 2008 at Arizona’s McKale Center.

The school reported the possible NCAA recruiting violation by coach Lute Olson, who called it “an unfortunate and regrettable error,” in September 2008.

Olson had sent a letter to basketball boosters asking for a donation to the Cactus Classic. NCAA rules prohibit institutional representatives or boosters from arranging financial assistance for potential recruits.

Olson denied knowledge of the letter being sent and later issued a retraction, saying he had not seen or approved the document.

“This is an unfortunate and regrettable error,” he said in a statement. “We have always prided ourselves on operating within NCAA rules and regulations.”

(Wire services contributed)

Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter

Latest comments

  • Jessie, no “Three Amigos” or “Gangsta U” comments from you this morning? LMFAO!

  • AZ,

    Good stuff and right on the money.
    Little background- Arizona got rid of the AD and this is just clean up.
    (it is referred to as THE LETTER.)

    And MOST surely, ARIZONA is after the — Three NYC Amigos.
    As the folks will soon see: Arizona will WIN the PAC10 title.
    And next year’s team will be in the TOP5.
    And a National Championship team if it can land the No.1 Recruiting class of 2010.

    —-
    Question:
    Arizona is going after a FIVE member recruiting class for 2010.

    Many are saying….if Arizona can land the THREE AMIGOS.
    Then, Josh Selby ,Doron Lamb ,Daniel Bejarano ,KJ,JM will be the NO.1 recruiting class in the nation.

    YES, the No.1 recruiting class.

    Note:
    Has BOOK ever dreamed of having the No.1 recruiting class in American.
    This would be a great accomplishment for BOOK and NYC. Yes, both.
    Time for NYC to reach out to those recruits.

  • So we go from a story about self-imposed sanctions to “Many are saying….if Arizona can land the THREE AMIGOS.
    Then, Josh Selby ,Doron Lamb ,Daniel Bejarano ,KJ,JM will be the NO.1 recruiting class in the nation.

    YES, the No.1 recruiting class.

    Way to go, Jessie. By the way, most of the country was already asleep by the time UA played Washington last night, how’d they do?

  • Jessie, who is saying Arizona would have the No. 1 recruiting class? I am a big Arizona fan too but we are not going to be a top 5 team next year and we are not going to sign Lamb, Selby, and Jack because we simply don’t have scholarships. We would need Brandon Lavender or someone else to transfer and we still might be 1 short. Even if Arizona were to get all 3 which I would be absolutely thrilled about, I think there would be schools with better recruiting classes.

  • Woody…LMAO.

    I was writing it…at the same time.
    Refer to other comment.

    Hey…

    You still have Josh Selby going to Kansas?
    I will change it up…Self new policy of “Shut your mouth”.

    I see you do not reference Doron Lamb.
    So, DL is out in Kansas.
    Do Tell.

  • I heard that Terrance Ross is headed to an academy in Arizona. Are the Zona Cats looking at him at all. I know UK, KU, and Duke are interested. It would be hard for Zona’s class to beat out Memphis’s. IMO, a UK class of Poole, Knight, Leslie, T Jones, and add another would be pretty good. We all can dream can’t we?

  • I guess Kansas has enough thugs on their roster.. fights and shooting people with pellet guns. I know I would be so proud to be a KU fan..

  • Ooooooh Woody, time zone smack!

  • Oh, do not worry RockChalkWoody, “Gangsta U” is going to get the death penalty. Everyone knows that Xavier Henry is paid for and all you have to look at is “follow that money my boy”. It is coming and NCAA is investigating the house. Go try and figure what I just told you.

    By the way, why would anyone want to live in a hillibilly state is beyond me. Nothing but cow-dong and waste. Not to mention that it is cold.

  • The three amigos thing will not happen. Simply put, we don’t have enough schollies. We are in a need for big men that will get boards for us. Is Kadeem really this good? I find him a bit raw, sort of like Kreal. Dominate smaller men is HS and not translanting to instant success at the college level. The real player that would make us a Top5 team next yr and national title worthy would be Terrance Jones. Wouldn’t it be great if the UA could somehow leave the “WAC10” and leave those garbage refs in the dust? 42 fts. By on team last night tells the story Woody….

  • Dreaming big, we would get selby, lamb and jones. That would put us in the No. 1 spot. Also, a transfer to the BIG12 wouldn’t hurt either. Maybe the new AD could get us out of the WAC10. We are not even on the Pacific anyway!

  • 7 Fresh, 5

  • 7 fresh, 5 soph,1 junior and 1 senior and Arizona is still tied for number 1 in the PAC 9 (USC excluded 2010). I think that RockChalkGAYhawk over here is worried that Arizona is going to take over national recruiting like usual and get back to its national dominance. UK, KANSAS, DUKE etc use to worry about playing zona, and I think its time to start worrying again. Bear Down

  • Bear Down,

    One publication ALREADY said the Arizona class ,if it includes the THREE AMIGOS, would be TOP 5.
    (The publication talked about DB,JS,DL,KJ-only four recruits. Not the FIVE commits coming. Posted with Brucie.)

    It is TOP5 for sure.
    But, none of this is possible without some love from – NYC and reaching out.
    This would be BOOK’s national coming out. Made possible by NYC.

    Note:
    The West is also hearing about the Xavier mess.
    People are starting to follow the money?

  • Arizona 2010

    Frosh
    Selby, Lamb, Jack, Daniel, Jordin

    Soph
    Williams, Momo, Hill, Parrom, KReal

    Jr
    Fogg, BLav

    Sr
    Horne

  • I believe AZ had it reference before, in another comment section.

    Where would they rank?

    Question: (to a major publication)
    “How would you rank a potential Arizona recruiting class of Josh Selby, Doron Lamb, Daniel Bejarano and Kadeem Jack? Top five?

    – Brody , Mesa ”

    RESPONSE:
    “Let’s go with a top-four class in the country if Arizona is able to pull off this foursome. I’d slide this group ahead of Tennessee’s class.” perrival

    So, ADD — Commit number 5 and we are looking at the NO.1 Recruiting class…

    I’m just saying..

  • BMOOREZONA, your right, EVERONE fears Arizona! Sorry, but I cant even type that with a straight face. The way the Arizona fans talk trash on this site you would think that they were the greatest program of all time. You would think Arizona was the birth place of basketball, not Kansas. You would think that they dominated the sport at one time and had won 11 National Titles, not UCLA. You would even think they won more games and had the highest winning percentage of all time in 100+ years of playing basketball, not Kentucky. Fact is Arizona has been to a few Final Fours (four to be exact) and even managed to win it all once. Congratulations, your program is on par with Arkansas and Maryland. BEER DOWN

  • errr…BEAR DOWN, sorry fellas.

  • 2010 Arizona NBA Players currently in the NBA:
    Gilbert Arenas
    Jerryd Bayless
    Mike Bibby
    Chase Budinger
    Channing Frye
    Jordan Hill
    Andre Iguodala
    Richard Jefferson
    Damon Stoudamire
    Jason Terry
    Luke Walton

    2011 Arizona NBA Players currently in the NBA:
    Josh Selby
    Derrick Williams
    Gilbert Arenas
    Jerryd Bayless
    Mike Bibby
    Chase Budinger
    Channing Frye
    Jordan Hill
    Andre Iguodala
    Richard Jefferson
    Damon Stoudamire
    Jason Terry
    Luke Walton

  • How many scholarships does Zona actually have for next year? they only have 1 senior this year, and already have 2 commitments. are you banking on some transfers?

    even so, right now in my opinion, Knight to UK, then Selby will pick either KU or Zona and Lamb will pick the one Selby doesnt. I could be wrong, that is just how i see it playing out.

  • more senseless rambling from a kentucky fan

  • Jesse is referring to a conversation he had with another poster over on azstarnet.com. The question and answer were both posted by board members, not recruiting analyists/writers/coaches/etc…

    Of course a class like that would be top 5, if not #1. If those 5 kids went to Northwestern Illinois State Polytech / Bumblefuck U / Whatever the fuck University, they would still be a top 5 class.

    If were are lucky, one of those kids will end up at Arizona. There is no way and I do mean NO WAY that we get all of them. Its literally impossible.

    Fantasy worlds are cool, but eventually you have to wake up.

    -A realistic Wildcat Fan.

  • Arizona has 3 scholarships for next year. Nic Wise is graduating, his brother Dondre is just on scholarship for this year, and Garland Judkins transferred earlier in the year. Of course, they still have to set aside an additional one for 2011-2012 when the sanctions apply. They only have one senior next year and his scholarship is already spoken for with Sidiki Johnson.

  • GasCan,

    Am Class of ’94 Arizona, and I think your response (to BMOOREZONA) is spot-on. Don’t get me wrong – am a Wildcat and am proud of our program, tradition, and consistency over the years, but my brethren should definitely be a bit more magnanimous in this hour. The skeletons of an irrelevant decision and action are out; give us your ribbing and let bygones be bygones.

    -biz

    PS – Am enjoying JW attempting to retreat from this escapade…the guy is a dolt (your name “gasCan” was already used.)

  • Where is PASTA BOY?

    We are confused by his SILENCE.
    Silence is very telling especially from Pasta Boy.

    Any news on Josh P.
    Does his name come up anywhere?

    So, DO TELL….

  • biz, I appreciate your response to my previous comment, but I’m afraid you missed the point of it. I am completely uninterested in skeletons of any level of relevancy. I simply could care less,and note that I didn’t mentioned them in my original comment.

    (In regards to the second-hand screen name faux pas; First I find out, via facebook, that there are literally hundreds of people that have the same, exact name that I have on my birth certificate. Now I’ve just been called out by someone who goes by “bizarro” for having an unoriginal screen name. How embarrassing! With that said, can we please keep this matter between you, me, and the parenthesis?)

  • Beautiful realistic view! It is so nice to see someone with a brain. You are absolutely correct. There is NO WAY we land all of these and I firmly believe even if we did we would still be behind Memphis AND Ohio State. Both of those schools have 4 guys in the top 100, and at least one guy rated #1 for their position each. Jessie is an absolute joke on anything he posts. It’s absolutely spectacular conjecture!

  • Damon Staudamire is no longer playing. He is a coach on Memphis.

  • A conversation involving you and you doll in your mother’s basement does not constitute what “people out west are saying”. In fact, it technically doesn’t even constitute “we”….

  • Jessie, Pasta Boy is snickering right now after watching the Mildcats lose to Washington State. Welcome to the NIT.

  • Jhawk,

    At least you make a statement.
    Thank you for stating what all Jhawk fans already know.
    Knight is going to Kentucky.
    Knight is another recruit which rejected Kansas.

    Did you say Josh to Arizona.
    You may have something there.

    And imagine if LAMB also goes to Arizona.
    You have not heard of the package.

    To be clear:
    Arizona will go after FIVE commits in 2010.
    Arizona will have THREE commits for 2011.
    (wally does not know what is happening…)

    PASTABOY….. tell us the relationship between the LETTER and Josh P.
    You must know?

    bizarro- you are too young to be considered Arizona.
    Diaper change. When you have over 20 years;then, you can talk.
    Go back and read the previous,various post at AZ….go back nine months and start getting educated.

  • Woody,

    Can you say 26.

    26.

    One of the reason Arizona gets top recruits is due to its approach of playing the best teams.

    According to kenp…ARIZONA has the Number 1, Strength of Schedule.
    Arizona believes the toughest schedule gets its players ready for the tournament and more importantly, ready for the NBA.

    Kansass is somewhere in the 40’s, SOS.
    Cupcake schedule?
    The West believe …it is cup cake -Grand Central Station.

  • Jessie,

    Can you do us all a favor and explain where the scholarships are for these 8 recruits?

  • jessie- can you say number 1? oh yeah, thats KU’s ranking. i dont believe arizona is ranked.

    give me a break, SOS has nothing to do with this.

  • Jessie, you’re SOS isn’t going to bail you out come tourney time–you’re out. So you set this schedule up to get marginal players like Parrom & Momo ready for the NBA? In your dreams.

leave a comment

  • X