The Arizona Wildcats received mixed news today. They will have guard Caleb Love back for a second season but lost two players from their 2024 recruiting class.
John Rothstein of CBS Sports reported earlier this evening that Love has withdrawn from the 2024 NBA draft and will return to Arizona as a super senior. A very short time after Rothstein’s reveal of Love returning, On3 Joe Tipton revealed that top-25 recruit Josas Sanon flipped his commitment from Zona to Arizona State.
Then ESPN’s Jeff Borzello revealed that top 50 2024 recruit Jamari Phillips has decommitted from Arizona.
Arizona Gets Return Of Star Guard, Lose Two Top 2024 Recruits
Love helped Arizona reach the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years and produced a career season. A Wooden Award finalist and Pac-12 Player of the Year, Love averaged 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. He still didn’t shoot the ball well, compiling a slash line of .413/.332/.83, though he knocked down 2.6 treys and cut his turnovers to 2.1 a game.
Love produced two double-doubles. He also scored 20+ points on 14 occasions.
“Wildcat nation. It’s been so amazing the way you welcomed me and showered me with love,” Love said on X. “No way I could walk away from that right now.”
Love is a crucial returnee for coach Tommy Lloyd, who lost five of their last 10 players, including four starters. Lloyd did an excellent job in the transfer portal, picking up commitments from three 4-star transfers: Anthony Dell-Orso, Tobe Awaka, and Trey Townsend.
Joson Sanon and Jamari Phillips
But Lloyd now has to replace to players two incoming freshmen who he was counting on to contribute immediately. Both players likely left due to Love’s and KJ Lewis’ return coming back. Additionally, Jaden Bradley is expected to follow suit as he was also testing the NBA waters, but he has not officially announced his decision.
Sanon was rated as a consensus top-25 recruit in the class of 2025 but was expected to reclassify to 2024. The 6-5 shooting guard committed to Arizona on March 20, 2024, and is still likely to pursue that plan with ASU.
Sanon is known as a three-level scorer who can create his own shot.
Here is what 247Sports director scouting Adam Finklestein said about Sanon:
Sanon is a volume scoring wing who is capable of getting his shot at multiple levels. His best weapon over the years has been his mid-range pull-up game, with good lift into his release. Within the last year, we’ve seen his range extend out to the three-point line with the same ability to rise-up into his shot.
Phillips, a native of Glendale (AZ), committed to the Wildcats in 2022. According to Jason Sheer of Wildcat Authority, his departure is a mutual decision between the Arizona coaching staff.
“I picked Arizona to be my school because it felt like home and because of my bond with the players, coaches, and team managers,” Philips said as to why he chose Zona over other offers. “I can tell they really make them feel apart of something and there are no egos.
“I feel like I’m bringing my scoring and playmaking ability to Arizona. I can create my own shot in an iso situation, and I can get a shot off the pick and roll. I feel with my playmaking ability, I can work and get into the lane and dish out to a teammate or even get the ball off a rebound and outlet it downcourt for someone running the lane to get them going.”
So, What’s Next for Arizona?
Assuming Bradley does return, Arizona has 11 players on scholarship for 2024-25, leaving the Cats with two scholarships open.
