Sam Froling commits to Creighton over Arizona, others

In another blow to Arizona Wildcats basketball recruiting, Sam Froling committed to Creighton late Monday evening, according to 247Sports.

The 6-foot-11 Australian power forward visited Creighton, along with Arizona, Maryland, and Wichita State in December. Froling was expected to commit around this time and he stayed true to his word.

A four-star prospect, Froling is the No. 131 player in the 2018 class and No. 30 power forward, per 247Sports Composite Rankings.

The younger brother of Harry Froling — who plays at Marquette and visited UA a couple years back) — Sam told 247Sports, “I’ve decided on Creighton because it’s where my gut says.”

“I’ve always wanted to trust my gut and my gut feeling is to go there. I enjoyed the guys and coach [Greg] McDermott a lot,” Froling said. “The fans were amazing there.”

Arizona could have used Froling as depth next season, but with Ira Lee, Chase Jeter, and Shareef O’Neal on track to be in the mix in the frontcourt, it’s not surprising to see Froling go elsewhere.

Plus, we haven’t even broached the FBI investigation subject yet which undeniably is a factor anytime Arizona recruits someone now (even though things have been all silent on the western front since that tumultuous week in September).

Arizona currently has two recruits, Brandon Williams and the aforementioned O’Neal, on board for 2018 — though both signed non-binding financial aid paperwork and are free to head elsewhere if they so choose.

Arizona could lose up to seven players from its current team as Deandre Ayton, Allonzo Trier, and Rawle Alkins almost certainly heading to the NBA Draft, and Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Dusan Ristic, Keanu Pinder, and Talbott Denny are all set to graduate.

That would leave Arizona with six returners with the most experienced players being Dylan Smith or Chase Jeter — neither of whom have more than two years of Wildcat basketball under their belts.

Regardless, there’s still a lot room for Miller and Co. to add to their 2018 class, but they will need to work some overtime hours to make sure they at least have enough to go 5-on-5 in practice.

If Arizona continues to have trouble landing high school players, it’s likely it will hit the grad transfer market.

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