Big-time recruiting class could be key for Wildcats this season

State of play: Head coach Tommy Lloyd lost some noteworthy players in the offseason — particularly Caleb Love, the Cats' leading scorer two years running — but has some key veterans returning this year.

• Point guard Jaden Bradley, back for his third season at UofA, has shown consistent improvement and is likely to have a bigger ball-handling role in Love's absence.
• Sports Illustrated calls him "an elite defender and a terror in transition."
• Center Motiejus Krivas and forward Tobe Awaka will be a potent combo in the front court.

What to watch: Lloyd has his best recruiting class since coming to Tucson in 2021, including two projected starters.

• Koa Peat, from Gilbert's Perry High School, is a "traditional power forward built like a linebacker," per Sports Illustrated, and "might have the most college-ready body of any frontcourt freshman" in the game this year, the Athletic writes.
• Shooting guard Brayden Burries already looks like he could be an elite scorer.

1 big name: UofA's freshman class includes shooting guard Bryce James, son of NBA legend LeBron James.

• LeBron was recently spotted wearing his son's UofA jersey on the Lakers bench.

• Yes, but: The younger James isn't projected to play much, if at all, as a freshman, and Lloyd suggested he could redshirt this season.

Threat level: As we saw last year in the Cats' inaugural season in the Big 12, the conference is no joke.

• March Madness runner-up Houston is projected to repeat as conference champs, and BYU and Texas Tech are also ahead of UofA in the preseason rankings.

The bottom line: In the end, all that matters to Cats fans is how the team fares in March Madness, and next year's tourney will mark 25 years since UofA reached the Final Four.

What's next: The Cats don't get an easy start this year — their season opener Monday in Las Vegas is against No. 3 Florida, the defending national champion.