Bennedict Mathurin (0) and Dalen Terry (4) celebrate their win against UCLA in McKale Center on Feb. 3. The Arizona men’s basketball team won the game 76-66.
A lot has happened with the Arizona basketball program over the past few weeks. To get you up to speed, here’s a recap.
Bennedict Mathurin is ready for the NBA
Mathurin was the sixth pick in the NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers and just the fifth Canadian player to be drafted in the top six of the draft. He is also the fourth guy who has played in Arizona to be selected by the Pacers (Michael Foster in 1970, Jerryd Bayless in 2011 and Solomon Hill in 2013).
“I’m really grateful for being a Pacer and I’m really excited,” Mathurin said. “I’m a simple guy. I like to compete a lot and I like to win.”
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd gave high praise to Mathurin about his work ethic and what kind of person he is.
“I will give him credit. He is a super diligent guy, he doesn’t come with many extras, he keeps to himself and he really has immersed himself in the process with becoming a great basketball player,” Lloyd said. “He’s extremely motivated, and I think his best days are ahead of him.”
Dalen Terry is bringing his energy to Chi-town
Terry was picked by the Chicago Bulls a little over two weeks ago in the draft, and said he is excited to get started with the team.
“I mean honestly I loved the gym, the facility and the people around here and the rich culture. Who wouldn’t want to be here?” Terry said.
Terry wore No. 4 throughout his entire basketball journey up until this point but wanted to honor two people he has looked up to at the next level with No. 25.
“It’s because of the late great Benji Wilson. My uncle played with [Wilson],” Terry said. “And obviously, me being an Arizona Wildcat, Steve Kerr wore 25 here, too.”
“I love [Terry] and I loved coaching him … . This kid came so far in a year and it’s a credit to his work,” Lloyd said. “I love his energy and his spirit, but what I love more is at his core of his person is a high-character dude and my only sad thing is that I don’t get to coach him again.”
Terry threw out the first pitch on Tuesday, July 5, at the Chicago White Sox game against the Minnesota Twins.
RELATED: Five-star PG Kylan Boswell reclassifies to 2022 class
Christian Koloko joins a talented Raptors team
Koloko was selected with the 33rd pick in this years draft, joining a very talented and young Toronto Raptors team.
“I think Koloko really fits their mold. I think he’s a really impactful player,” Lloyd said. “This guy really impacts the game and impacts winning.”
“I feel great, I’m excited to be here and compete, improve and get better,” Koloko said. “I’m going to try to be a star in my role and just do whatever the coaches want me to do to help the team win.”
Lloyd watched Koloko grow a ton in just one season together and said he sees him continuing to grow up North in Toronto.
Tommy Lloyd adds five new players
After Lloyd lost four of his key contributors from last season, he had to bring in a few more players and he did just that in the past month.
That started with signing athletic 6-foot-8 forward Filip Borovicanin from Serbia. According to 247Sports, he is a four-star prospect that is ranked as the 99th best player in the 2022 recruiting class.
Lloyd continued to bring in foreign players with Henri Veesaar, a fellow Estonian to Kerr Kriisa who committed to Arizona in late May. He is now their third center on the roster behind Oumar Ballo and Dylan Anderson.
On June 10, Arizona added two talented veteran guards with Courtney Ramey and Cedric Henderson Jr. Ramey averaged 9.4 points and 3.5 rebounds for Chris Beard last season at the University of Texas at Austin. Henderson scored 14 points, 5.6 rebounds on 38% shooting from the 3-point line at Campbell University.
What looks to be Lloyd’s final addition to the 2022-23 Wildcat roster was five-star PG Kylan Boswell reclassifying to join the team this fall. Boswell is a strong point guard that can score the ball at all three levels at a high rate.
Wildcats in Las Vegas Summer League
Bennedict Mathurin – Indiana Pacers
Gabe York – Indiana Pacers
Dalen Terry – Chicago Bulls
Christian Koloko – Toronto Raptors
James Akinjo – Atlanta Hawks
Brandon Williams – Portland Trailblazers
Terrell Brown Jr. – Minnesota Timberwolves
Upcoming Summer League games
Bulls vs. Mavericks – July 8 at 1 p.m.
Pacers vs. Hornets – July 8 at 3 p.m.
Wolves vs. Nuggets – July 8 at 6 p.m.
Raptors vs. 76ers – July 9 at 12:30 p.m.
Blazers vs. Pelicans – July 9 at 7 p.m.
Pacers vs. Kings – July 10 at 12 p.m.
Bulls vs. Knicks – July 10 at 2 p.m.
Wolves vs. Grizzles – July 10 at 6 p.m.
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