There’s no doubt Arizona basketball coach Tommy Lloyd has heard the questions about his high school and transfer-portal recruiting approaches.
Lloyd answered the high school recruiting concerns in vintage, quiet-yet-confident form by luring in 5-star 2023 guards Kylan Boswell and KJ Lewis.
And Friday morning, Lloyd reminded the world that he knows a thing or two about the portal and he did it in Lloyd fashion.
First was the Thursday afternoon commitment from Campbell University 6-foot-6 wing Cedric Henderson.
It’s not possible to replace recently departed sophomore wing Dalen Terry’s production but Campbell has some of the same qualities as far as next-level vision and the ability to be a secondary offense initiator while possessing the physical attributes to harass opposing team’s wings.
The hope for Arizona fans is that Campbell’s last season averages of 15.6 point and 5.6 rebounds per game can transfer to the 10 point and 4 rebound per game range in Pac-12 play.
If the Henderson commitment was the appetizer, a very tasty one at that, the Friday commitment from Texas-transfer guard Courtney Ramey was the main dish.
A sure-fire starter due to his quick and instinctive defensive prowess, Ramey possesses a skill set unlike anyone on the Arizona roster.
And just as importantly he fills the holes surrounding Kerr Kriisa’s lack of defensive mobility.
Whether it was against Tennessee,UCLA or Washington, there were multiple times last season where the opposing coach decided that it would be a focus to attack Kriisa off the dribble.
And for as good as a defender as Dalen Terry was, it’s a very difficult task for a 6-foot-8 wing to guard a significantly smaller player.
The 6-foot-1 Ramey’s physical dimensions are perfect for contesting quick scoring guards.
Offensively, Ramey has demonstrated a deft touch from deep and the ability to get past his man, when given the freedom, as his 12.2 point per game and 40 percent 3-point shooting junior averages show.
Expect Lloyd to give Ramey considerable leeway, within the offense, to demonstrate the scoring chops he is no doubt looking to showcase for scouts at the next level.
If Arizona can get close to the production from Ramey and Henderson it got from last year’s transfer market of Pelle Larsson, Oumar Ballo and Justin Kier, the Cats will be a problem come March.
The last 36 hours should show Arizona fans that Lloyd knows what he is doing.
He will always air on the side of caution as roster continuity is a big part of the Lloyd agenda. Remember this is a man coming from a Gonzaga program built on the back of international recruits and upperclassmen starters.
But it doesn’t stop there; Lloyd also knows he needs talent to win with.
Henderson and Ramey both come to Arizona with specific skills and defined roles while playing for a coach who has shown to give his players freedom.
If the average Arizona fan worried about the Cats only having 9 scholarship players, it’s fair to reason that Lloyd was more than aware of the same fact.
In one year Lloyd has restored Arizona to the top of the basketball world, proven to be a great game-day coach, a picky but effective recruiter while winning with the mannerisms appropriate for the manner in which Lute Olson built this basketball empire in the desert.
Lloyd has shown he is deserving of the Arizona fanbase’s trust.
It’s time to buy in.
Follow Mike Luke on twitter @ironmikeluke
