Arizona wing Anthony Dell'Orso confirms he will return to Wildcats in 2025-26

Unfinished business pic.twitter.com/KQoCipSruL

— Anthony Dellorso (@DellorsoAnthony) April 14, 2025

Like nearly all college players, Dell'Orso appears to have considered entering the transfer portal or another option over the past few weeks. Following UA's season-ending loss to Duke in the Sweet 16 on March 27, he said he had no idea if he would return.

“I seriously haven't thought about it," Dell'Orso said then. "I know everyone says that, but I really don't know yet. I do have another year but not sure what I want to do.”

The transfer portal remains open until April 22, and the NBA Draft early entry deadline isn’t until April 27.

A junior transfer from Campbell in 2024-25, Dell'Orso averaged 7.2 points and 1.4 rebounds while leading the Wildcats in 3-point shooting percentage (41.3) among those who made at least one per game. His 3-point percentage also ranked 129th nationally.

Dell'Orso came off the bench for the Wildcats' first nine games, after which they were just 4-5, then started the final 28 games. He played the eighth-most minutes on the roster (18.2) but his shooting threat gave UA a better ability to spread the floor at the beginning of games.

Dell'Orso had a season-high 20 points while hitting 6 of 9 3-pointers against Colorado on Jan. 25. While he went scoreless in UA's Big 12 tournament final against Houston, Dell'Orso went 2 for 4 in each of the Wildcats' three NCAA Tournament games and sealed their 87-83 second-round win over Oregon by hitting all four of his free throws in the final nine seconds.

“I was like, You know what? I’m gonna make these. We’re gonna win, and we’re gonna fly to New Jersey,” Dell’Orso said after the Oregon game.

While Dell'Orso appears likely to play a similar amount next season, it isn't clear yet whether he might start or come off the bench. The Wildcats are bringing in high-scoring freshman wing Brayden Burries and have yet to learn if point guard Jaden Bradley or forward Carter Bryant will return.

The Wildcats now have seven confirmed players on their 2025-26 roster, plus three others who could return but have not announced their plans: Carter, Bradley and center Motiejus Krivas.

Arizona's roster transition to date:

Returning

Tobe Awaka, C, 6-8, senior

Jaden Bradley, G, 6-3, senior

Anthony Dell’Orso, G/F, 6-6, senior

Motiejus Krivas, C, 7-2, junior

Undetermined

Carter Bryant, F, 6-8, sophomore

Addison Arnold, G, 6-3, sophomore#

Jackson Francois, G, 6-5, senior #

Jackson Cook, G, 6-3 sophomore#

Newcomers

Evan Nelson, G, 6-2, senior (Harvard transfer)

Bryce James, G, 6-4, freshman

Koa Peat, F, 6-8, freshman

Dwayne Aristode, F, 6-8, freshman

Brayden Burries, F, 6-4, freshman

Departed

KJ Lewis, G, 6-4, junior (Georgetown)

Caleb Love, G, 6-4, out of eligibility

Conrad Martinez, G, 6-0 (in transfer portal)

Emmanuel Stephen, C, 7-0, sophomore (UNLV)

Trey Townsend, F, 6-6, out of eligibility

Henri Veesaar, F/C, 7-0, junior (North Carolina)

Grant Weitman, G, 6-4, out of eligibility

Luke Champion, F, 6-8, out of eligibility

# Instead of unlimited walk-ons and a 13-player scholarship limit, rosters will be capped at 15 next season. It is not clear yet if UA will be including the returning walk-ons within that 15-player limit in 2025-26.