Arizona guard Pelle Larsson gestures for more noise from the crowd as the Wildcats start to put the game away against Colorado on Feb. 18, 2023 at McKale Center.
Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) tries to float a shot over Princeton forward Keeshawn Kellman (32) late in the second half in their NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., March 16, 2023.
San Diego State forward Keshad Johnson celebrates after scoring against Connecticut during the second half of the national championship game in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Houston.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson gestures for more noise from the crowd as the Wildcats start to put the game away against Colorado on Feb. 18, 2023 at McKale Center.
After quietly entering the NBA Draft last month under the expectation that he would return to the Wildcats next season, Arizona guard Pelle Larsson had a little fun confirming Tuesday that he will indeed do just that.
The Wildcats’ versatile fourth-year guard posted to Instagram a photograph of himself near Gates Pass, in a UA uniform and with his arms extended to hold out basketballs in each hand — and an adjoining photograph of Leonardo DiCaprio holding his arms extended during a memorable scene in “Wolf of Wall Street.”
“Your job isn’t done until the job is done,” Larsson posted, while repeating DeCaprio’s emphatic words via hashtag.
Pelle Larsson Instagram
Pelle Larsson Instagram
Larsson never made a public declaration he was entering the NBA Draft, but his name was included on the league’s official early entry list on April 26. That allowed Larsson to collect feedback from NBA scouts. He also was invited to the G League Elite Camp last weekend but did not participate, the NBA confirmed.
A versatile 6-5, 215-pound wing, Larsson is already a veteran of three college seasons, spending 2020-21 at Utah before transferring to Arizona in the summer of 2021 after Tommy Lloyd was hired to take over the Widlcats.
As a sophomore in 2021-22 at UA, Larsson was named the Pac-12’s Sixth Man of the Year while averaging 7.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He played for the Swedish national team in the summer of 2022, then set new career highs in every offensive category as a junior last season.
Larsson started the first 18 games of last season before moving back to a sixth-man role in midseason but kept playing starters’ minutes. He wound up averaging 9.9. points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 47.2% from the field and becoming arguably the Wildcats’ best defensive player.
The return of Larsson and signing of Lithuanian big man Motiejus Krivas gives Arizona at least nine players lined up as of now for the 2023-24 season, with up to four scholarship spots available assuming forward Azuolas Tubelis remains in the NBA Draft and that his brother, Tautvilas, also departs the scholarship roster.
Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) tries to float a shot over Princeton forward Keeshawn Kellman (32) late in the second half in their NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., March 16, 2023.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Tubelis to play in Combine games
Azuolas Tubelis has agreed to play in NBA Combine scrimmages, where he is scheduled to face Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe and other top post prospects this week in Chicago.
Among those joining Tubelis on “Team Bradds” are Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, UCLA’s Amari Bailey and UConn’s Adama Sanogo along with the G League Ignite’s Leonard Miller.
Though times and rosters are subject to change, Team Bradds is scheduled to play Wednesday at 11:15 a.m. against Team Bailey, which includes Tshiebwe, the 2021-22 consensus player of the year, along with Marquette power forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper. That game will be followed by Team Richmond vs Team Hines at 1:15 p.m.
On Thursday at 1:15 p.m., Team Bradds is scheduled to face Team Hines, which includes Serbian power forward Tristan Vukcevic, TCU’s Mike Miles and UCLA’s Adem Bona, among others. Team Richmond and Team Bailey will follow at 3:15 p.m.
ESPN will televise the NBA Combine from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday and between 1 and 5 p.m. on Thursday. Former UA standout Richard Jefferson is scheduled to be among the analysts.
The combine, which has included only testing and team interviews so far, is being held at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena.
San Diego State forward Keshad Johnson celebrates after scoring against Connecticut during the second half of the national championship game in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Houston.
David J. Phillip, Associated Press
SDSU transfer to announce Saturday
Former San Diego State forward Keshad Johnson is scheduled to announce his next college choice on Saturday, according to Kentucky Sports Radio.
Johnson visited USC, Oklahoma and Arizona this spring before finishing with Kentucky. He went back to San Diego State to walk through graduation ceremonies last weekend before making his decision.
“He’s going to take this week to just reflect on everything and make the best decision,” Johnson’s mentor, Don Manning-Fuimaono, told KSR. “Keshad definitely has a hard decision to make.”
Final Four ticket application open
Fans seeking to attend the 2024 NCAA Final Four at Glendale’s State Farm Stadium can apply for upper-level tickets until May 31 at phoenixfinalfour.com.
The $250 all-session tickets, which will include two semifinals and the national championship game, will be distributed via a randomized process. Fans can apply for up to four all-session tickets, but the full amount, plus a $25 application fee, must be paid up front. In the event an application is not successful, everything but the $25 fee will be refunded.
Section 7 to return
State Farm Stadium is again scheduled to host the Section 7 tournament, a recruiting showcase for mostly Western-based high-school teams that typically contains multiple UA recruiting targets.
The girls’ Section 7 event will be held from June 15-17 while the boys’ event is set for June 21-25. The games will be played over 12 courts, and lower-bowl seating is free.
West End Ink is located on 3763 West Andrew Johnson Hwy and is open Tuesday through Friday from 12pm to 9pm and Saturday 3pm to 9pm. The shop has been serving the community since 2020 when the owner Jose Aguilar decided to venture out on the business side of tattooing.
We want to say a huge THANK YOU to this community for honoring us with this award. We couldn’t have achieved this without you. For the past 16 years, it has been our mission to help those in Hamblen County and the surrounding area to lead healthier and happier lives.
Broyles Real Estate and Auction is a full-service professional auction company specializing in asset disposition via live onsite and online auctions for real estate, personal property, business, and estate liquidations.
Circle S Butcher Block and Farm Kitchen, wants your dining experience to be one that you share with all your friends. Circle S Butcher Block and Farm Kitchen is locally owned by Chip and Claudia Shumaker.
Locally owned and operated. Specializing in residential and commercial garage doors and operators, dock equipment, glass, mirrors, storefronts, automatic doors and replacement windows.
At Center for Wellness we consider ourselves the area’s leader for your weight loss and skin care needs. We are a locally owned small business serving the community for over 20 years.
The Ministerial Association Temporary Shelter (MATS) provides a full program to men, women, and children experiencing homelessness regardless of race, culture, gender, religion, or age. At MATS, we endeavor to help place new constants in people's lives that are not hindered by environmental …
Studio and natural light photographer specializing in maternity, newborns and babies through the first birthday. TTLG offers a large commercial studio, a client closet with over 275 maternity gowns, handmade outfits and hair accessories for babies up to one year, and a large variety of props…
Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System would like to thank the community for voting Morristown-Hamblen the People's Choice Best hospital for 22 years and counting. We strive to continually put the patient first and ensure that our community has access to excellent health care.
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