Arizona Wildcats Basketball

Brandon Williams is heading to Arizona.

The 4-star point guard announced his intention to become a Wildcat on Tuesday, choosing Arizona over UCLA, Gonzaga, Kansas and USC:

Dear University of Arizona,
I'm your Point Guard#COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/jzZndvHikn

— Brandon Williams (@TheeBWill) June 6, 2017

"They've been there from the beginning, since eighth grade. They were the first school to recruit me," Williams said, per ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman and Jeff Borzello. "The addition with [assistant] coach [Lorenzo] Romar only helped me out. They are starting to do a lot more ball screens, which fits my game. Also, my relationship with the coaching staff is great. That's very important."

Williams is ranked as the No. 32 overall prospect in the 2018 high school class by Scout.com. He's ranked 10th overall at point guard and is the West's top-rated player at his position.

"They need me to be the point guard," Williams said. "They haven't had that guard in a while. They need me to just do what I do now, create for myself as well as for my teammates."

Williams becomes the second class of 2018 player to commit to Sean Miller, joining Shareef O'Neal, the son of Hall of Fame center Shaquille O'Neal. The Wildcats are expected to make a hard push for Marvin Bagley III, the 2018 consensus top overall prospect. 

Arizona's already loaded roster got stronger Monday with the addition of 5-star wing Emmanuel Akot.

Per Evan Daniels of Scout.com, Akot will reclassify from the 2018 class to 2017.  

"I chose to reclass because I know I'm ready," Akot said. "I want to get better and I know I will get pushed everyday at Arizona. I'll be on a really good team too so this is a great opportunity for me."

Prior to making the switch, the Canadian was considered the No. 15 player overall in 2018 and No. 3 at his position, per Scout.com.

He joins a class that already includes one of the top players in the country in center DeAndre Ayton, plus guard Brandon Randolph and two other 4-star recruits. With Rawle Alkins having recently announced his return along with Allonzo Trier, the Wildcats could be one of the best teams in college basketball next season.

Rob Dauster of NBC Sports listed Arizona as No. 2 in his early preseason predictions, trailing only Michigan State.

Akot is a bit raw compared to others on the roster, but he has great length and athleticism at 6'7". He's a quality defender who can knock down jumpers from the perimeter, giving him two-way appeal. Even if Akot isn't a star as a freshman, he should make a positive impact for the Pac-12 squad.

Don’t tell LaVar Ball, but Shareef O’Neal has the most famous last name in AAU basketball. The rangy, athletic power forward and son of Shaquille O’Neal has been dominating at Crossroads School, a private high school in West Los Angeles. He’s already committed to attend Arizona, but still has another year left at Crossroads, giving him the most intense case of senioritis anyone could possibly have.

That’s not stopping O’Neal from setting goals for the high school season to come. His eyes are trained on the Gatorade Player of the Year award and bringing home a state championship. Still, with all the hype and that big-time last name, the basketball world can’t help but wonder what the ceiling is for O’Neal.

We spoke late last week about why he declared early, his friendship with fellow NBA scion Bol Bol, and of course, that other high-wattage basketball family—the Balls.

Bleacher Report: Committing early is something a lot of guys are doing right now, setting the groundwork for their college careers one or two years before they’re eligible. What was the thinking behind you wanting to declare a couple years early?

Shareef O’Neal: I went on my visits to [Arizona] and right when I got there, I realized I liked the school a lot. The program fits around my gameplay—big men playing like guards. I went on that visit earlier, in 2016, and I was waiting for more offers and stuff to come, but that was the school I knew I wanted to go to for a very long time. I talked to my parents about it and they were on board with it.

B/R: Tell me about playing with Bol Bol. You guys are both in the California high school basketball system, so you see each other a lot. You’re both big guys. You’re both highly touted prospects. You’re both the sons of former NBA big men. What was it like playing with him instead of against him? And do you think there’s a possibility that he could be coming to Arizona too?

SO: We talk through social media and the phone, but once we finally met in person, we just became really good friends. Playing on the same team as him is awesome. He helps a lot with the defense and offense, just with getting him the ball. He gets me the ball a lot. Probably my favorite teammate to play with. As for him going to Arizona, he hasn't really told me about what he's looking for, but I'm always in his ear talking about Arizona. I know they're on him. I put my recruiting hat on and I talk to him about it a lot.

B/R: What do you think you can do together, potentially, as two bigger guys together and you stretching the floor? How do you see it happening at Arizona and how do you think it went in AAU this year?

SO: Right when we got on the floor together, it just clicked. We both have really good games. We combined for like, 50 or 60 points a game, just us two. We ball out together. At Arizona, I think we could do a lot of damage at the college level. I think we could go all the way and win a title if we were on the same team. Just me, him, and a really good guard. I’m always in his ear, trying to make it happen.

B/R: I saw that there’s this TMZ story about you wanting to go one-on-one with LeBron. You want to set the record straight?

SO: When I called out LeBron the first time, I was young. It was a confidence thing. I was 15, 14 at that time. It was just fun. LeBron is my favorite player. I've always wanted to play against him, because I do a lot of studying on him and a lot of good players. I just feel like, if I do play one-on-one with him, I could have a good chance.

They came to me at the airport, I think it was Friday morning and they just re-called me out on it. I'm not gonna back down from any challenge I make, so I called him out again to see if I could get it happening one day. It'd be a good experience just to see where I'm at playing against the best player in the world. Depending on how I do against him, I can see where I'm at. I'm not doing it for bragging purposes; I'm doing it to get better as a player. I think people don't realize that. They think I'm calling out LeBron just to call him out because I think I can beat him. I'm doing it to make me better and stronger as a player.

B/R: Yeah, a lot of people don’t realize the competitive spirit of an athlete and what that’s all about. Are there other guys in the league that you either admire or want to maybe test yourself against when you get to the pros?

SO: I look for the guys who play similar to me, so [Kevin Durant]. I’ve been told I play like him. Karl-Anthony Towns. [Giannis] Antetokounmpo. Those type of guys, I’ve been told I play like them a little bit. They’re young. They’re really successful. I’m just looking to be where they are.

B/R: Since you’re out here playing basketball in the Los Angeles County area, I have to ask you about the Ball family. I know you guys don’t play each other often. Chino Hills and Crossroads probably don’t meet up too often. What do you think about how the media is so fascinated by a high school basketball player—someone like you who’s young and maybe not 100 percent ready to face up to that stuff? You grew up in it, but it’s not true of everybody.

SO: With the Ball family, they're all really talented. They're amazing. They play a different style of basketball, but like, media, paying attention more to high school and younger kids, amateurs—it's hard. I was born into it, but I understand how people feel. Just a couple years ago, nobody knew I was Shaq's son and then a video came out and now people ask me for pictures, paparazzi all over me, autographs and all that. It's overwhelming for an amateur. It puts a lot of pressure on what they're going to do at the college level, at the NBA level.

Lonzo Ball dominated high school. He dominated college. Now, it's even bigger, because he's going to the NBA. Everybody's waiting to see what he's gonna do on the floor. That's probably the biggest part of it, the pressure. The younger you are, the more pressure you have. The better you are, the more pressure. I have a lot of pressure because of the last name I have on my back. My dad is known as the best big man to ever live. That’s a big accomplishment for him, but for me, it’s a lot of pressure. When I was younger, I used to worry about being an NBA bust, but I know I’m not. I keep working hard to prove everybody wrong.

B/R: What are some of the ways you cope with that pressure?

SO: Every time I’m free, I go and shoot or go on a run, do some push-ups. Do everything to get an advantage; just one step above and just block everything out. I hear everything people in the crowd say, but it doesn’t bother me anymore. I’m more mature. I think I’m ready for the college level. I know the college crowds are gonna be crazy. Depending on who you are and how big you are, the worse the crowd is gonna be toward you. Me having an NBA Hall of Famer as a dad, everyone’s coming at me. Everyone’s attacking me when I’m on the court. The more mature I get, the more I can handle it.

B/R: What is the weirdest piece of Superman-related merchandise that was in your house growing up?

SO: There’s a Superman onesie in my house that’s my dad’s. It’s a very tight one. He wore it one time. It barely fits him, but that’s probably the weirdest thing.

B/R: What are you going to major in at Arizona?

SO: Business.

B/R: Speaking of business, there’s so much money in the shoe game and going back to the Balls, the Big Baller Brand shoe is out and all that. Do you have any thoughts on how you want to market yourself going forward, before college is over and as you eventually transition into the pros?

SO: Marketing myself as a player, I feel like...I'm not trying to throw shade or anything, but I feel like I want to do it on my own, not through my dad. I know the Ball family, their dad is a big part in the media and a big part of their marketing. That could help, it also could not help. I just want to do it on my own, to let people know I'm not living through my dad and not, like, doing what he's telling me to do and market myself as my own player.

Arizona turned to the transfer market Tuesday and landed a once highly regarded recruit in Chase Jeter.

Jeter, who decided to transfer from Duke after the Blue Devils lost to South Carolina in the second round of the NCAA tournament, chose the Wildcats for the next step in his basketball career.

Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com reported after Jeter left Duke, he would have to sit out the 2017-18 season but would still have two years of remaining eligibility.

Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski praised Jeter after his decision to leave his program, per the team's official website: "Chase has been an outstanding young man in our program for the last two years. ... We wish nothing but the absolute best for Chase and his family."

Jeter came to Duke with plenty of expectations as a 5-star recruit in the class of 2015, per Scout. Scout listed him as the No. 15 overall player and No. 6 center in his class, but he was quickly buried on the loaded Blue Devils' depth chart.

He averaged just 2.6 points and 2.7 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game in 2016-17 and missed the final 19 contests with a herniated disc. He was even less effective from a statistical perspective as a freshman with 1.9 points and 1.9 boards per game.

However, he was highly sought-after as a recruit for a reason and can serve as a matchup problem for opposing big men at 6'10" with athleticism.

If healthy, he will have a chance to thrive after leaving Duke, a la Semi Ojeleye, who transferred to SMU from the Blue Devils and proceeded to average a team-high 18.9 points a night for the 30-5 Mustangs during the 2016-17 campaign.

Arizona would gladly accept that type of contribution from Jeter when he is eligible to return to the floor. The Wildcats need to replace Kobi Simmons and Lauri Markkanen after they declared for the NBA draft.

Jeter never found his groove at Duke but has been given a second life to become the player he was expected to be coming out of high school with another basketball power in Arizona.

Shareef O'Neal, son of Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, committed to play basketball for the Arizona Wildcats on Wednesday.

According to Josh Gershon of Scout.com, O'Neal became Arizona's second 2018 commit.

O'Neal is a 4-star prospect who ranks as the No. 36 overall player, No. 11 power forward and No. 4 player at this position from the state of California, per Scout.com.

Per 247Sports, the Santa Monica, California, native also had offers from Baylor, California, Georgetown, Kansas State, UCLA, USC and Shaq's alma mater, LSU.

O'Neal spoke favorably of Arizona after visiting the school in February, according to Krysten Peek of Rivals.com: "I've been to Arizona for an unofficial visit and the campus was great, the coaches treated us like family. I know they let their bigs shoot and play the perimeter and that's the kind of thing I like. My teammate Ira Lee is obviously going there, so he's been talking to me about the program."

Scout.com lists O'Neal at 6'9" and 200 pounds, which is a slight departure from the 7'1", 300-plus-pound frame his father carried in the NBA.

O'Neal figures to fit in at Arizona as a power forward who can stretch the floor, which is something head coach Sean Miller got plenty of use out of in 2016-17 in the form of Lauri Markkanen.

For more news, rumors and related stories about Shareef O'Neal, the Arizona Wildcats and college basketball, check out the college basketball and Arizona streams on Bleacher Report's app.   

Arizona Wildcats star Allonzo Trier will be returning to school for his junior year in 2017-18. 

Per ESPN's Jeff Goodman, Trier said he would be back with the Wildcats next season:

I have thought about it for a while, and I have decided to continue my education and basketball career at Arizona. Because of my relationship and faith in Coach (Sean) Miller, the coaching staff and my teammates, I will continue my original goal when I came here -- to help lead the team to a national championship.

With my family's support, I am excited and confident about my decision. I also believe this will best prepare me for a long and successful NBA career.

Trier had a fantastic sophomore season for Arizona in 2016-17, though his debut was delayed by a 19-game suspension due to a failed performance-enhancing drug test that was originally going to keep him out for the entire year.

He led the team in scoring (17.2) and was third in rebounding (5.3) and assists (2.7). The Seattle native was named Most Outstanding Player of the Pac-12 tournament. 

The Wildcats finished 32-5 last season, losing to Xavier in the Sweet 16. Trier's return gives the team one of its key pieces back to make another run at a Pac-12 title and NCAA tournament appearance.

For more news, rumors and related stories about Allonzo Trier, the Arizona Wildcats and College Basketball, check out the College Basketball and Wildcats streams on Bleacher Report's app.

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For a complete player profile on DeAndre Ayton, visit Scout.com.

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For a complete player profile on DeAndre Ayton, visit Scout.com.

There may be a No. 11 seed next to the Xavier Musketeers' name in your bracket, but this is no darling Cinderella story. 

The steady program that has been to six of the last 10 Sweet 16s stunned the second-seeded Arizona Wildcats on Thursday in San Jose, California, with a 73-71 victory to advance to the Elite Eight. The Wildcats appeared to be in control down the stretch with a 71-64 lead, but the Musketeers finished the game on a 9-0 run, capped by Sean O'Mara's basket with less than a minute remaining.

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Jumpers from Kadeem Allen and Allonzo Trier rimmed out for the Wildcats, and Xavier moved one victory away from its first Final Four in program history.

Gary Parrish of CBS Sports and Evan Daniels of Scout put Xavier's impressive turnaround into context:

ESPN Stats & Info shared the team's place in history:

While O'Mara scored the winning bucket, Trevon Bluiett, Malcolm Bernard and J.P. Macura carried the offense throughout the game:

As for Arizona, head coach Sean Miller will go another year without making his first Final Four. Trier did all he could with 15 straight points for his team during a red-hot stretch in the second half, but 19 points from him and 17 points from Dusan Ristic was not enough to stave off Xavier's final spurt.

The Wildcats also forgot about typically reliable big man Lauri Markkanen (nine points) down the stretch, as Jeff Borzello of ESPN pointed out:

Despite the loss, it looked as if Arizona would steamroll its way to the Elite Eight when it scored the opening seven points, but Bluiett rescued the Musketeers with a scorching start. Xavier's leader made his first seven shots and finished the first half with 18 points.

He was cooking from the field, as Xavier Gameday shared:

However, the Wildcats took a 37-35 lead into the halftime locker room after Rawle Alkins' buzzer-beater.

The Musketeers couldn't keep up on the boards and allowed 11 offensive rebounds by intermission. That helped the Wildcats overcome 39.4 percent shooting from the floor and early foul trouble for Trier and Allen, as Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer noted:

One of Chance Comanche's rebounds ended in impressive fashion:

The pattern of Bluiett against Arizona's interior players changed slightly. The Wildcats continued to pound the paint when Ristic scored their first eight points out of the gate, but other Musketeers such as Bernard and Macura spearheaded a 7-0 run and gave Bluiett much-needed support.

As a result, the No. 11 seed continued to trade leads with the mighty Wildcats even when Bluiett went cold. Xavier's Edmond Sumner—who was lost for the season in late January with a torn ACL—recognized his teammate's importance:

The Musketeers also received a boost from their improved interior defense, as Seth Davis of Sports Illustrated highlighted: 

Xavier hung tight throughout but struggled to answer Trier during his 15-point outburst. His deep three to finish his individual run gave the Wildcats the lead, which NCAA March Madness shared:

To the Musketeers' credit, they did not go away even after Arizona went up eight. Between the team defense and the offense of Bluiett, Bernard and Macura, Xavier battled all the way back to tie the game before O'Mara's basket gave it the lead and ultimately the win.

The Musketeers will play the West Region's No. 1 seed, Gonzaga, in Saturday's Elite Eight showdown.

The Bulldogs have never been to the Final Four either, which means one of the two programs will get the proverbial monkey off its back. Gonzaga lost just one game the entire season and beat West Virginia on Thursday despite leading scorer Nigel Williams-Goss going 2-of-10 from the field.

It is fair to expect a bounce-back performance Saturday, which means the Musketeers will be challenged even more against one of the best teams in the nation.

Postgame Reaction

Xavier head coach Chris Mack discussed the comeback, per David Clark of Cincinnati.com: "I'm so proud of our guys, you know, we got down eight, on the West Coast, I just talked to our team about ... hey listen, we don't have to get it all back in a possession or two. We gotta get stops. We gotta take the best available shot."

Bluiett talked about the win, per Clark: "We never split apart when the game went out of our favor. We stayed strong and knew if we followed game plan, we were gonna win."

On the other side, Miller took the blame for the loss, per Shannon Russell of WCPO.com: "I'm equally disappointed in myself. Our team never developed great confidence against the zone."

He also praised the victors, per Russell: "I'll tell you this—Xavier is capable of beating anybody. They're playing great basketball."

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Bleacher Report is your one-stop source for March Madness. From the first round to the final buzzer, Bleacher Report has you covered with the latest news and analysis, plus every highlight you can't miss.

Stats and records are correct through the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament.