"Tell them … tell the team to bear down"

Lower-rated Mayes played well against 5-star Lamb

By Javier Morales and Anthony Gimino

If basketball was played in accordance to Rivals.com ratings, Arizona commit Jordin Mayes of Los Angeles Westchester would have struggled mightily a couple of months ago against another recruiting target for UA coach Sean Miller and his staff. Mayes, a combo guard, was matched against Doron Lamb of Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy in the Les Schwab Invitational in Hillsboro, Ore., and the Rivals.com three-star player held his own against the five-star Lamb. Westchester defeated Oak Hill 52-47 and Mayes equaled Lamb with 16 points. Mayes also had three rebounds, two assists and one turnover in 30 minutes. Lamb fouled out and had four turnovers with one assist in 32 minutes. “I really don’t pay attention to anything else except what I have to do on the court for my team,” Mayes told us this week when asked about being rated No. 106 by Rivals.com. “My game speaks for itself. I know I can go in there and help Arizona in a lot of ways as a point guard and shooting guard.”

Mayes, credited for his basketball IQ by recruiting experts, grew up playing basketball under the guidance of his father Darryel Mayes, who played under Jerry Tarkanian at UNLV in 1979-80. The younger Mayes, who was raised in Portland in the same neighborhood of Damon and Salim Stoudamire, has watched plenty of video of his close family friends. “I didn’t get to really see Damon play when he was at Arizona because he’s a little older than me, but I remember seeing Salim play,” Jordin Mayes said. “I have a lot of respect for them and how they played the game.” When Damon Stoudamire led the UA to the Final Four in 1994, Jordin Mayes was almost 1. … Despite Rivals.com’s rankings, Jordin Mayes’ harshest critic is probably his father. “Jordin has to learn more about managing the game and getting better at that,” the elder Mayes said unprovoked. “He has the skills to score big points when he needs to. As a point guard, he has to get others involved. But as he matures, he will understand more that he must keep the defense on its heels. Sean and his staff can see the ability of Jordin scoring when the opportunity presents itself. When the play calls for a bucket, get that bucket. Don’t pass up that shot. That’s called playing too nice.”…

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By Anthony Gimino

We’ll have recruiting stuff later from Arizona’s new signing class, but there were several interesting news items from Mike Stoops press conference, including news on the search for an offensive coordinator, position changes, the white helmets and upcoming uniform changes.

Here is the lead from my story at TucsonCitizen.com:

Arizona coach Mike Stoops said Wednesday he could have a new offensive coordinator by the end of the week.

Stoops said he has brought in three coaches for interviews.

“We’re close,” Stoops said. “I’d say by Friday we’ll make some kind of decision.”

Stoops must replace Sonny Dykes, who left to become the head coach of Louisiana Tech on Jan. 20 – two weeks before signing day. The Wildcats lost quarterback recruit Matt Brown because of it; Brown signed with TCU.

“I’ve liked everyone I’ve had in,” Stoops said. “There are a lot of unbelievable coaches out there who have great experience and great ideas. We’re trying to find someone who will fit in with our staff the best.”

Even with a new coordinator, there likely won’t be a major shift in scheme as the Wildcats figure to remain a spread team, using plenty of four-receiver sets and the shotgun formation.

“The decision is going to be very difficult,” Stoops said. “I have interviewed three tremendous guys I have taken a liking to. That really is the hardest part of our job sometimes, hiring people and telling other people no.”

The new hire could possibly have a co-coordinator title with Bill Bedenbaugh, the offensive line coach and running game coordinator. Arizona will have co-defensive coordinators next season, with linebackers coach Tim Kish and newcomer Greg Brown, who will be coaching the secondary.

Go to TucsonCitizen.com for the rest of the notes …

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High-profile prep programs came calling but he stayed in Phoenix

By Javier Morales

Potential Class of 2011 recruit Nick Johnson, who is being sought by UA and ASU, left Gilbert Highland High School this season for high-profile Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada

Phoenix North shooting guard Daniel Bejarano, rated the No. 1 Class of 2010 prospect in the state by Rivals.com, Scout.com and Hoopmasters.com, could be playing elsewhere for one of those high-profile college preparatory outfits such as Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada, if he so desired. Bejarano, who has signed a national letter of intent with Sean Miller at Arizona, watched ESPN’s coverage Monday of those elite high school programs, including Newark (N.J.) St. Benedict’s Prep, which features his potential future Arizona teammate, Class of 2011 power forward Sidiki Johnson. Bejarano observed former Gilbert Highland player Nick Johnson, who is now a Class of 2011 guard with Findlay, score 16 points in the Pilots’ upset of No. 1 ranked St. Patrick (N.J.), 71-70, at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

Sidiki Johnson also left a traditional high school, transferring out of St. Raymond’s High School in the Bronx to attend St. Benedict’s. “Yeah, I saw of those games on ESPN,” Bejarano told me this week. “I wish some of our games at North were televised like that (nationally). (The coverage) is not fair to some of us who play in high school, but that’s just the way it is. I could get more exposure playing for some of those prep schools, but I didn’t want to hurt my North teammates by leaving them behind. To tell you the truth, when I was in eighth grade, I was not even focused on going to high school. As I’ve grown up, I’ve realized it’s the best thing that could have happened to me. The guys at North are like brothers to me. We grew up together. We’re from the same neighborhood. It would have been very hard to leave those guys and move to one of these prep schools. You know, players one through 12, we’re a close family.” … That bond with his teammates started their freshmen season in 2006-07, when five players (who are now seniors), played significant minutes for North’s team that advanced to the state semifinals. Former UA coach Lute Olson was the first to recruit Bejarano that season after the guard scored 37 points against Phoenix St. Mary’s and former UA guard Jerryd Bayless. “I look at our team at Arizona now and we have a lot of freshmen like we did that year (in 2007),” Bejarano said. “I know our guys (Arizona) can get it done even though they’re freshmen. It’s all about playing as a team and playing with heart because their talent is not developed yet. That’s how we were as freshmen at North. We were like family who really did not care how young we were. We just played ball. That’s all it comes down to. Just play ball. We only lost four games that season.” …

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Coaching carousel takes Dykes to Louisiana Tech

By Anthony Gimino

Sonny Dykes’ departure to Louisana Tech means Mike Stoops must hire his third offensive coordinator in seven years at Arizona

Arizona offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes was announced as Louisiana Tech’s head coach late Wednesday afternoon, leaving the Wildcats without a key coach two weeks before signing day.

At his introductory press conference, Dykes said that as of yesterday, he still “fully expected” to be at Arizona. “That’s the way this business goes sometimes,” he said about a fast-moving coaching search.

Dykes thanked Arizona coach Mike Stoops and the Wildcat players, although he did incorrectly refer to his former school as “Arizona University.”

“Without them,” he said of the Arizona coaches and players, “I wouldn’t have this great opportunity to represent Louisiana Tech.”

Dykes replaces Derek Dooley, who resigned late last week to become the coach at Tennessee, which had to replace Lane Kiffin, who left for USC when Pete Carroll bolted for the Seattle Seahawks.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS AND SPECULATION ABOUT DYKES’ REPLACEMENT AT TUCSONCITIZEN.COM

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Four Cats should add to recent surge in draft-worthy players

By Anthony Gimino and Javier Morales

The NFL has drafted 10 Arizona players in the past three years, which nearly matches the Wildcats’ total from the previous seven seasons, speaking once again to how coach Mike Stoops has upgraded the program.

Former UA defensive tackle Earl Mitchell is a fifth- or sixth-round prospect as rated by NFLDraftScout.com

UA had a mere 11 players drafted from 2000 to 2006. There could be four more selected this year — tight end Rob Gronkowski, defensive tackle Earl Mitchell and cornerback Devin Ross, plus possibly fullback Chris Gronkowski. Mitchell would project as a third- or fourth-round pick in most years, but this could be the best and deepest group of defensive tackles ever. Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com rates Mitchell as more of a fifth- or sixth-round pick because of that quality depth at the position. If that happens, some team likely will be getting a steal. “I think he has an NFL future,” Rang said, “it’s just that he’s part of a class that is a special class.” … Rang told us in September that Ross was moving up the draft boards, but the cornerback didn’t stand out during the Pac-10 season and had a horrible Holiday Bowl, which damaged his status. “I thought he had a solid senior year,” Rang said. “Not spectacular, not catastrophic by any means.” Ross has been downgraded to a fourth- or fifth-round prospect, but he and Mitchell can improve their stock at the Jan. 23 East-West Shrine Game and at the NFL scouting combine, starting in late February. What’s there to like about Ross’ game? “He’s stronger in the upper body that he appears and he certainly has some speed,” Rang said. …

What was one of Chris Gronkowski’s favorite memories at Arizona? “I never lost to ASU,” said Gronkowski, who spent two seasons at UA. Chris Gronkowski said he has heard his draft projections as anywhere from the fourth round to undrafted free agent. The guess here is that he is a draft longshot, but he would be a super end-of-the-roster guy — willing, hard-working, versatile on offense as a blocking fullback/pass catcher and a guy who runs well enough to help on special teams. … Arizona is listed as a 100-1 favorite at bodog.com to win the BCS national championship after the 2010 season, which, oddly, is the same bet you can make on Arizona State. Can’t recommend either option — especially laying down money on the Sun Devils — but getting the Cats at 100-1 is way more enticing than UCLA at 60-1. Alabama is the betting favorite at 3-1. … The Wildcats lost mid-year junior college signee Eddie Elder, a safety who fell short of transferable credits. So he’s apparently ready to enroll at Arizona State, which will accept his credits for enrollment right now. Elder reportedly chose that option over getting his coursework in order in the spring and then enrolling at UA in the summer. UA loses a guy who figured to compete for open spots at free safety and nickel back. Makes the commitment of safety Marquis Flowers, the state’s top high school recruit, all the more important. …

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SAN DIEGO — Holiday Bowl postgame interviews of Arizona players and coaches and Nebraska standout Ndamukong Suh (to come) after the UA’s 33-0 loss Wednesday night at Qualcomm Stadium:

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Loss of Mark Stoops to FSU requires decision to make

By Anthony Gimino and Javier Morales

UA linebackers coach Tim Kish, part of Stoops’ staff since 2004 and an effective recruiter, is a candidate for the UA’s defensive coordinator position

Mike Stoops hasn’t had to make a lot of agonizing decisions with his coaching staff in six seasons, having to replace only one coordinator — offensive coordinator Mike Canales after the 2006 season. Now, he has to replace his younger brother, defensive coordinator Mark Stoops, who is stepping into the same role — with a much bigger spotlight — at Florida State. If things work at well at Florida State for Mark Stoops, working with new FSU coach Jimbo Fisher, he’ll be able to jump from there to a BCS-conference head coaching job in a few years. Perhaps this even makes him more viable for a return someday as the head man at Arizona if Mike were to move on. In the meantime, Mike Stoops probably doesn’t have to over-think this decision. Maybe he has somebody special in mind, but, if not, just promote linebackers coach Tim Kish, who has held the defensive coordinator position at Illinois (1997-2000), Ohio (2001) and Indiana (2002-03). Kish is now one of two coaches — defensive line coach Mike Tuiasosopo is the other — who have been with Mike the whole time at Arizona. Mike still has a large hand in the defense, and Kish figures to seamlessly be able to carry out the head coach’s vision. … There are two voters in the Harris Poll with strong Arizona connections. One is former Tucson Citizen columnist Corky Simpson and the other is former UA offensive lineman Joe Smigiel. They both had reasonable picks for Arizona in the final regular-season poll, which is one-third of the BCS rankings. Simpson had the Wildcats at No. 22; Smigiel picked them 18th. … Arizona will leave for San Diego and its Holiday Bowl preparations on Dec. 24. The game is Dec. 30. …

Much already has been made and will be made of the connections between the Stoops family and the Pelini family. Both are from Youngstown, Ohio, and the brothers in both families played sports with each other growing up. Now, Mike Stoops and Bo Pelini will oppose each other as head coaches when Arizona plays Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. Mike is older, so it was Bo who played in the same secondary as Mark Stoops at Cardinal Mooney High School. Who was better: Mark or Bo? “Probably Bo,” Mike said Friday. He added with a laugh: “But I was better than both of them.” … Former UA receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Rob Ianello was chosen the head coach at Akron this week. Ianello had been with Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis for the past five seasons. Ianello always has been known as an ace recruiter but boosted his coaching cred with the Irish, helping players such as Jeff Samardzija, Rhema McKnight, Maurice Stovall, Golden Tate and Michael Floyd. Ianello is familiar with the recruiting turf of the Ohio region, so it’s a good fit in that regard. Ianello now joins a select group of college head coaches who never played college football. Others include Texas Tech’s Mike Leach, Duke’s David Cutcliffe, Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson and Central Florida’s George O’Leary. Two others who were on that list — Weis and Kansas’ Mark Mangino — were fired earlier this month. …

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