One of the top players in the 2021 recruiting class has trimmed his list of suitors, and the Arizona Wildcats have made the cut.
Nathan Bittle, a 5-star center from Oregon, announced a top for of Arizona, Gonzaga, Oregon and UCLA on Friday:
2021 five-star Nathan Bittle is down to four schools. @Nathanbittle33 pic.twitter.com/qyRFQRt7v6
— Tipton Edits (@TiptonEdits) July 31, 2020
The 6-foot-10 Bittle is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 9 player in the 2021 recruiting class, as well as the second-best center and the No. 1 prospect from Oregon. A star at Crater High School in Central Point, Ore., where he averaged 25 points, 11 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and 2.5 assists as a junior, Bittle has been compared to former UA star Channing Frye by 247Sports national recruiting analyst Josh Gershon, citing his 3-point shooting and shot blocking while calling him a potential NBA first-round pick with further physical and athletic development.
Bittle is listed at only 175 pounds, meaning he’s got plenty of room to grow.
Arizona has been high on Bittle for a while, having him in for an official visit during last season’s Red-Blue Game.
Bittle is one of two top-tier 2021 prospects from Oregon that Arizona is big on. The other, 4-star power forward Ben Gregg, recently told The Oregonian that the Wildcats are moving up his list thanks to constant communication from coach Sean Miller and his staff.