For Star subscribers: Our longtime columnist weighs in on Christian Koloko's draft decision, Adia Barnes' roster turnover, Dan Hicks' hall of fame induction and what name image and likeness deals mean for cheating.
Greg Hansen The Star's longtime columnist weighs in on Christian Koloko's draft decision, Adia Barnes' roster turnover, Dan Hicks' hall of fame induction and what name image and likeness deals mean for cheating:
Koloko’s pluses are that he has a good motor, good hands, he can finish at the rim and that he’s shown steady improvement in three college seasons. Plus, he’s a winning personality. Koloko may be wise to study the results of the 2021 draft. Ten old-school centers were drafted, including five second-rounders. Of the group, only Turkish center Alperen Sengun averages 20 minutes per game, in Houston. Sengun was the 16th overall choice.
Queta got his foot in the door. The question for Koloko is whether he’ll settle for getting his foot in the draft door this year, or return for a fourth season at Arizona and have a better chance to knock the door down a year from now. Barnes admitted it was"stressful," especially in nonconference games, to spread minutes to 15 players and maintain harmony in the program. Of the seven who left Arizona’s roster in the last few weeks, none averaged more than 6.3 points per game. Only one, Bendu Yeaney, started more than two games.
Proud dad Brett Favre in Tucson for volleyball matchesA familiar face was at Arizona’s beach volleyball victory over Southern Mississippi on Friday on the UA campus. Super Bowl quarterback Brett Favre accompanied his daughter, Breleigh Favre’s beach volleyball team to the Arizona Invitational. Breleigh is part of Southern Miss’ No. 1 doubles team; it lost to Arizona’s No. 1 team of Alex Parkhurst, a Salpointe Catholic grad, and Alana Rennie.
Friends honor Julius Holt's life with memories, donationsThe celebration of life ceremony for 1980s Arizona football player Julius Holt last week in the Avalon Chapel at the Adair Funeral Home in Oro Valley overflowed into three rooms at the facility. Holt, 60, who died of valley fever on April 4, was a very popular man in Tucson, much of it linked to 30 years as a lead voice in Tucson’s youth football leagues.