Love withdrawing from draft, returning to Arizona

Jeff Borzello, ESPN

• Staff WriterMay 29, 2024, 05:57 PM ET Close Basketball recruiting expert.
• Joined ESPN in 2014.
• Graduate of University of Delaware.Pac-12 Player of the Year Caleb Love

is withdrawing from the NBA draft and returning to Arizona for his final season, he announced Wednesday.Love made his announcement through a video on social networks.

“Wildcat Nation, it’s been so remarkable the way you have actually invited me

and showered me with love,”he stated.”There’s no chance I can walk away from that today. The program goes on. “Editor’s Picks Love, a 6-foot-4 guard, led Arizona to the Pac-12 regular-season champion in his very first season in Tucson, averaging 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.4 helps en path to Player of the Year honors in the conference and third-team All-America choice by the Associated Press. He struck career highs in scoring, rebounding and field-goal percentage.The St. Louis native invested the first three years of his career at North Carolina, helping lead the Tar Heels to a championship game look in 2022. Love balanced 14.6 points during his three seasons in Chapel Hill and will be remembered for his go-ahead jumper over Duke’s Mark Williams to advance to the title game.Love is the second Arizona player to withdraw from the NBA draft this month, following rising sophomore guard KJ Lewis. The Wildcats lost Pelle Larsson to the draft previously this spring, while beginners Kylan Boswell and Oumar Ballo went into the portal shortly after the season ended.With Love returning, Tommy Lloyd has a preseason top-10 team for Arizona’s very first season in the Big 12. Love, Lewis and Jaden Bradley should form among the very best border groups in the nation, while

the Wildcats are likewise including Campbell transfer Anthony Dell’Orso. Up front, Horizon League Player of the Year Trey Townsend should be the focal point after transferring in from Oakland.Shortly after Love announced his choice, top-25 recruit Joson Sanon revealed he was decommitting from Arizona and would instead play for Arizona State next season. Top-50 recruit Jamari Phillips likewise decommitted from Arizona on Wednesday, sources told ESPN

.