Meet the 2017-18 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team

Arizona enters this season as a favorite to repeat as Pac-12 outright champions and hope to end the 17-year drought of not appearing in the Final Four.

The Wildcats lost key players in Lauri Markkanen, Kadeem Allen, Chance Comanche and Kobi Simmons, but they also return three starters mixed in with the 2017 recruits, which some would consider the best freshmen group UA has ever brought in.

Take a look at this season's Arizona Wildcat men's basketball squad: 

Class: Freshman

From: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Size: 6-7, 200

Probable role: Starting or key reserve wing

Age: 18

Major: Undecided

Follow him here: @Emman_Akot (Twitter), EmmanuelAkot (Instagram)

Miller said it: “Emmanuel’s blessed with unbelievable court vision. He’s kind of like a point guard even when he’s not the actual point guard out there. He’s a tremendous defensive player with great size.”

Class: Sophomore

From: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Size: 6-5, 220

Probable role: Starting small forward (but will miss at least first two weeks of season with broken foot)

Age: 20

Major: General studies

Follow him here: @iam_RawleAlkins (Twitter), kingrawle (Instagram)

Miller said it: “Rawle loves the game of basketball. It’s almost a skill he possesses. Nobody loves to work on their game and practice more, and when we practice he always wants to make it competitive.”

Class: Freshman

From: Nassau, Bahamas

Size: 7-1, 250

Probable role: Starting power forward

Age: 19

Major: Undecided

Follow him here: @realdeandreay (Twitter), deandreayton (Instagram)

Miller said it: “I have never seen anybody like him at his age. I don’t think I will again. It’s just because he’s so physically imposing. He’s as strong and as gifted running for somebody that size that I’ve worked with and he loves the game.”

Class: Freshman

From: Chandler

Size: 6-2, 180

Probable role: Reserve combo guard

Age: 19

Major: Undecided

Follow him here: @AlexBarcello23 (Twitter), alexbarcello (Instagram)

Miller said it: “Alex is strong, has a big heart, has very deceptive quickness and toughness.”

Class: Senior

From: Tucson

Size: 6-5, 215

Probable role: Reserve forward

Age: 23

Major: Management (masters)

Follow him here: @TalbottDenny (Twitter), talbottdenny (Instagram)

Miller said it: “We think the world of him as a player, as a person and as a student. Everybody uses that word ‘culture’ — you need a lot of pieces to the puzzle and Talbott has brought some character to our team and leadership, having grown up in Tucson and having really understood what Arizona basketball is about.”

Class: Sophomore

From: Henderson, Nev.

Size: 6-6, 215

Probable role: Walk-on forward

Age: 19

Major: Pre-business

Follow him here: @jakedesjardins (Twitter), jakedesjardins (Instagram)

Class: Senior

From: Los Angeles

Size: 5-11, 170

Probable role: Starting point guard

Age: 22

Major: Psychology

Follow him here: @unrulymino0 (Twitter)

Miller said it: “I think to have a senior point guard is something we all value as coaches and that’s what he is. We look at him as being really one of our team’s leaders. Somebody who’s played against every style that you can play against.”

Class: Junior

From: Las Vegas

Size: 6-10, 230

Probable role: Practice forward (redshirting after transfer from Duke)

Age: 20

Major: General studies

Follow him here: @chasejeter04 (Twitter), yhase_ (Instagram)

Miller said it: “Chase is a wonderful addition to our team. Transfers always take a back seat to the incoming recruiting class from high school but Chase will be a vital cog for our future.”

Class: Sophomore

From: Herndon, Va.

Size: 6-3, 170

Probable role: Walk-on guard (out for season with torn ACL)

Age: 20

Major: Pre-business

Follow him here: @KoryJones52 (Twitter), koryjones2 (Instagram)

Class: Freshman

From: Los Angeles

Size: 6-7, 235

Probable role: Reserve forward

Age: 19

Major: Undecided

Follow him here: @iramandoesit (Twitter), leetime11 (Instagram)

Miller said it: “He doesn’t look like a freshman physically. He’s going to be able to impact our team with his ability to do a lot of different things.”

Class: Senior

From: Perth, Australia

Size: 6-9, 220

Probable role: Reserve forward

Age: 22

Major: General studies (social behavior and human understanding)

Follow him here: @KeanuPinder28 (Twitter), keanupinder (Instagram)

Miller said it: “He’s very, very mobile and extremely aggressive. Offensively, he moves the ball, he’s fluid, but rebounding is really his calling card.”

Class: Freshman

From: Yonkers, N.Y.

Size: 6-6, 175

Probable role: Starting or key reserve wing

Age: 19

Major: Undecided

Follow him here: @brandolph902 (Twitter), slim2._ (Instagram)

Miller said it: “Brandon, as he’s gotten stronger, his athleticism really stands out. He’s also a clever passer for somebody who plays off the ball.”

Class: Senior

From: Novi Sad, Serbia

Size: 7-0, 245

Probable role: Starting center

Age: 21

Major: Psychology

Follow him here: @ristic_dusan (Twitter), dusanristic14 (Instagram)

Miller said it: “I think it’s fairly evident that Dusan has made steps each year. He’s like a staircase and that’s what you want to see from those guys who become seniors. Offensively, it all came together for him last year. There were times where our best bet offensively was to get him the ball in the low post. He can be unstoppable down there.”

Class: Sophomore

Size: 6-5, 170

Probable role: Reserve guard

Age: 20

Major: General studies

Follow him here: @shift_smith10 (Twitter), Ds3.ynbm (Instagram)

Miller said it: “He really shot the ball well (during UA’s exhibition trip to Spain) and that’s something we know he can do. We’re working with him on other things and the year that he had with our program practicing every day is clearly to his advantage. He’s already played one season of college basketball and sometimes you forget about him.”

Class: Junior

From: Seattle

Size: 6-5, 205

Probable role: Starting shooting guard

Age: 21

Major: General studies

Follow him here: @ISO_ZO (Twitter), iso_zo (Instagram)

Miller said it: “He’s always been a natural scorer, then he became a better shooter and now he’s a better playmaker. We’re gonna ask him to be a better defensive player and more of a leader on and off the court. He has a chance to be a great, great player in his junior year.”

Class: Junior

From: Southbury, Conn.

Size: 5-11, 170

Probable role: Walk-on guard

Age: 21

Major: Business Finance

Follow him here: @tyler_trillo50 (Twitter)

Class: Freshman

From: Irvine, Calif.

Size: 6-5, 180

Probable role: Walk-on forward

Age: 18

Major: Undecided

Title: Head coach

Age: 48

From: Beaver Falls, Pa.

College: Pittsburgh, ’92 (B.A. communications)

Title: Associate head coach

Age: 58

From: Los Angeles

College: Washington (1978-80 as player), Cincinnati, ’91 (criminal justice degree)

Follow him here: @CoachRomar (Twitter)

Title: Assistant coach

Age: 51

From: Virginia Beach, Va.

College: Old Dominion ’96 (B.S. physical education)

Follow him here: @coachmarkphelps (Twitter)

Title: Acting assistant coach

Age: 27

From: Bedford, Mass.

College: American University, ’14

Follow him here: @Austin_Carroll7 (Twitter)