Pras Murthy
Over the last few months, top 2012 prospect Shabazz Muhammad wasn't thought to be a major target for Arizona. Wildcat head coach Sean Miller had recruited Muhammad early in his high school career, but insider accounts of Arizona's recruiting list had Brandon Ashley, Rosco Allen, and a potential big man as the priorities.
That seemed consistent with Muhammad's comments on the schools recruiting him.
"I'm being recruited by UCLA, Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, and that's about it" said Muhammad a few weeks ago in an interview with Coast2CoastHoops.
But Muhammad made Arizona headlines last week when Coach Sean Miller attended a workout at Bishop Gorman. Arizona had been to Bishop Gorman before, but it was generally thought they were there to watch Rosco Allen, another Arizona recruit. Allen was on vacation last week so it was clear Miller was watching Muhammad. And then came news that Muhammad would visit Arizona this week.
"After Sean Miller came up to see Shabazz last Wednesday they invited us down to Arizona," said Holmes. "We wanted to show how serious we are about Arizona and we are looking forward to seeng the campus."
When Muhammad's recruitment started, there were a number of questions about Arizona. It wasn't clear how long it would take Miller to rebuild the program, and it was even more uncertain what kind of talent Miller would be bringing in to Tucson.
But then Miller signed Josiah Turner, Nick Johnson, Angelo Chol, Grant Jerrett, and E.J. Cooper. Then Arizona won the Pac 10 and advanced to the Elite 8, smashing Duke along the way.
"Arizona is getting the best talent in the West and that's something Shabazz has noticed," said Ron Holmes, Muhammad's father. "He wants to play for a National Championship in college and Arizona's incoming recruits are something that stand out."
The return to national prominence has helped Arizona with a number of recruits, but the effect was especially noticeable with Muhammad.
"Arizona saw us being recruited by a lot of the east coast and they may have had the impression we weren't as serious about them," said Holmes. "The recruitment stopped for a while but now we're both very interested again and that's why we are coming down."
Shabazz Muhammad will attend school at Bishop Gorman on Wednesday and then arrive in Tucson, Arizona Wednesday evening for an unofficial visit. He will be departing on Thursday and playing in the Jayhawk Classic in Kansas this weekend.
The visit will give both parties a chance to get know each other, particularly where they stand in each other's recruitment plans.
"Sean Miller is a great coach and has been really nice to us," said Holmes. "Sean talks to Shabazz and so does Book Richardson. We are looking forward to sitting down and talking with them."
Sean Miller has stated that he is looking for a small forward in 2012. Muhammad is certainly one of the best small forwards available.
There was some concern on message boards that Muhammad and current teammate Rosco Allen wouldn't play together in college, and that a commitment by one would rule out that school for the other. But Holmes made it clear Muhammad doesn't feel that way.
"Shabazz would love to play with Rosco at the next level," said Holmes. "Shabazz wants talent on any team he goes to and Rosco is a unique talent. We know that first hand. Wherever Rosco goes, we would be very open to that school as well."
"I've heard a lot of great things about Brandon Ashley too," said Holmes, addressing another Arizona target. "We follow all the best west coast talent, and Shabazz would love to play with any of them. Arizona is getting a lot of them, and it is very appealing."
One of the first interviews BruinsBall.com did was with Shabazz two years ago. He was a skinny little kid who was incredibly nervous, as were we. He's now considered by many as the #1 prospect in the Class of 2012 and has been absolutely dominant in early spring tournaments.
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