Pac-12 Player of the Year Caleb Love will withdraw from the NBA draft and return to Arizona for his final season, he announced Wednesday.
Love made his announcement via a video on social media.
“Wildcat Nation, it's been amazing the way you've welcomed me and showered me with love,” he said. “There's no way I can walk away from that right now. The show goes on.”
Love, a 6-foot-4 guard, led Arizona to the Pac-12 regular-season championship in his first season in Tucson, averaging 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists en route to conference Player of the Year honors. and third place. -Associated Press All-America team selection. He reached career highs in scoring, rebounds and field goal percentage.
The St. Louis native spent the first three years of his career in North Carolina, helping lead the Tar Heels to an appearance in the national championship game in 2022. Love averaged 14.6 points during his three seasons in Chapel Hill and will be remembered for his go- jump ahead 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 emerging second-year guard KJ Lewis. The Wildcats lost Pelle Larsson in the draft earlier this spring, while starters Kylan Boswell and Oumar Ballo entered the portal shortly after the season ended.
With Love's return, Tommy Lloyd has a top-10 preseason team for Arizona's first season in the Big 12. Love, Lewis and Jaden Bradley should form one of the best perimeter groups in the country, while the Wildcats also They are adding Campbell, Anthony Dell. 'More or less. Up front, Horizon League Player of the Year Trey Townsend should be the focal point after transferring from Oakland.
Shortly after Love announced his decision, top-25 recruit Joson Sanon announced that he would decommit from Arizona and instead play for Arizona State next season. Top 50 recruit Jamari Phillips was also released from Arizona on Wednesday, sources told ESPN.
