Even if Arizona basketball players aren't drafted, they have a shot

The four Wildcats following him into professional basketball this summer may have to find an unconventional route to the league, too. None is expected to be selected in Thursday’s NBA Draft, just as McConnell was ignored in the 2015 draft before putting together a solid rookie year for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Arizona’s top prospect, 7-footer Kaleb Tarczewski, wasn’t invited to the NBA predraft combine and isn’t listed on any of the major mock drafts. He fell out of the second round of NBADraft’s mock draft, and is ranked only No. 99 of the top 100 available prospects by Draft Express.

However, Zeus does have a strong endorsement from UA coach Sean Miller, who similarly advocated for McConnell last year.

“Kaleb, in my mind, is a frontcourt version of T.J., in that when they work him out and he gets on a team you’ll appreciate him a ton because of how smart he is, how ready he is in certain areas that a young player wouldn’t be,” Miller said last month, as Tarczewski began predraft workouts for teams. “They’re going to value that, and I would be surprised if he’s not a part of the NBA next year. I think a lot of coaches who have coached against Kaleb would echo my sentiment.”

Although none of the departing UA seniors were invited to the Chicago combine, both Ryan Anderson and Gabe York played in the seniors-only Portsmouth Invitational, where Anderson made the all-tournament team.

Since then, Tarczewski has been publicly known to have worked out for the Clippers and Pacers, and the Celtics are expected to look at him today. The Jazz and Lakers are among the teams inviting in Anderson, and York is known to have worked out for the Kings and Suns.

While efforts to reach Tarczewski, York and Mark Tollefsen have been unsuccessful, Anderson told the Star last month that being an underdog motivates him.

“I think the greatest thing about basketball is you always have something to prove,” Anderson said. “The greatest players in the world have somebody doubting them. I just want to prove I belong at the highest level. I’m definitely motivated.”

Even if they aren’t drafted, all of the UA’s prospects may receive a chance to play for NBA Summer League teams and, in one form or another, can become pros.

“Ryan and Gabe don’t have the size that Kaleb does (for their positions), but in both cases the goal is to make as much money as they can professionally,” Miller said. “There’s examples of going overseas and staying there forever. There’s examples of you go over there for a year or two and add to what you’ve done and guess what? You show up into the NBA through that channel.

“I think there’s a lot of different ways to get there, but it’s not that they’re too old, it’s just that it’s a fast-moving world right now.”

Here’s a look at each UA prospect’s credentials entering NBA Draft week:

Kaleb Tarczewski

Age: 23

Size: 7-0, 243

Pro position: Center

Rank: 81 overall prospect (NBADraft.net), 99 overall prospect (Draft Express), 35 top senior (Draft Express)

2015-16 stats: 9.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg

He said it: “I need to be a little more fluid offensively. Try to get that feel for the game offensively. That rhythm. Maybe develop a little more of a jump shot. I also need to learn how to play NBA defense, though. It’s a lot different than college. There are a lot of little nuances that you have to pick up from being taught. So I think that’s also a really important thing.” — Tarczewski, to CBS Sports earlier this month

Ryan Anderson

Age: 23

Pro position: Power forward

Size: 6-9, 234

Rank: 88 overall prospect (NBADraft.net), 50 top senior (Draft Express)

2015-16 stats: 15.3 ppg, 10.1 rpg

He said it: “I’m a better leader, and I’m more equipped to go on the professional journey now. I grew up a lot in my time at Arizona, learning how to be a senior captain, and that put a lot of pressure on me to perform day in and day out. I wish there were some things I could do over, but the lesson I learned was how to be a leader and give everything I have.” — Anderson, to the Star in May

Gabe York

Age: 22

Size: 6-3, 187

Pro position: Combo guard

Rank: Not ranked

2015-16 stats: 15.0 ppg, 42.1 3-point percentage

He said it: “For me, it’s what I can do on the court that not too many people have seen from my career at Arizona. I sort of got caught in that role of being a shooter. It’s gotten me to this point so I’m obviously going to keep doing what I do, but at the same time I want to show what I have … just getting to the rim, one-on-one actions and even trying to dunk on somebody.” — York, during a Sacramento Kings post-workout video interview

Mark Tollefsen

Age: 23

Size: 6-9, 200

Pro position: Power forward

Rank: 59 top senior (Draft Express)

2015-16 stats: 7.0 ppg, 35.6 3-point percentage

He said it: “I had pretty high expectations and would I have loved to play a little more, produce a little more? Of course. But this was the unselfish thing to do, to come here to win.” – Tollefsen, on his one-year UA career, to the Star in March