2013 forward Aaron Gordon, a top-five prospect, officially committed to the Arizona Wildcats on Tuesday during an McDonald's All-American media session, giving Sean Miller one of the best overall recruiting classes. The commitment arguably makes UA a strong Final Four candidate as well.
Gordon had narrowed his list to Arizona, Washington, Kentucky with Oregon being a late addition to his final decision. On Tuesday, he displayed snapbacks of the four teams on a table at his McDonald's All-American media session in Chicago before ending it with an Arizona cap on his head.
Ranked fourth by ESPN in the 2013 recruiting class, only top overall recruit Andrew Wiggins is a bigger name yet to commit to a school.
Gordon joins 4-star guard Elliott Pitts and 5-star small forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in Miller's 2013 recruiting class. He was presumed to have already committed to a coach prior to his formal announcement, and many experts pegged the Wildcats as being the school of choice. Arizona ultimately won the recruitment of the high-motor, high-IQ big man because they sold him on development of wing skills that will make his jump to the NBA more successful.
While the 6'8, 210 pound athlete could find immediate success in college as is, he's likely viewed as a tweener at the next level. And with Arizona loaded at the 4 and 5 positions next year, he'll presumably be able to spend time at the small forward slot as well.
With that, Hollis-Jefferson suddenly has a battle to be in the starting lineup in place of Solomon Hill. Whatever the case may be, Miller's team suddenly looks better than the 2012-13 version that made it to the Sweet 16 and arguably could have gone deeper on the NCAA Tournament.
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