Ezra Amacher
Here are some player evaluations for the Wildcats road split in LA.
Solomon Hill, B
Solo didn't play great against either USC or UCLA but he definitely was one of the few positives for Arizona on the road trip. Against the Bruins, Hill scored 16 points to go with 11 rebounds but was unable to make any of his three pointers. USC was able to limit Solo's scoring to just 11 points but he was able to get another double double by grabbing 10 boards. His defense however was not great, particularly when he went up against the Wear twins who had no trouble scoring on the Cats. Overall, Hill played pretty well but he is definitely not a dominant player on either side of the ball.
Jesse Perry, B
The senior forward was put into a tough position against UCLA as he was asked to guard the Wear twins who have a height advantage on him. Perry tried his best but he simply wasn't big enough to stop them from getting whatever they wanted in the post. Offensively, Perry had a good performance in both games but really stepped up in the second half against USC. When it looked like the Trojans might make the game close, Perry kept getting fed the ball in the paint and it resulted in him scoring 20 points.
Josiah Turner, B-
Josey at times looks like a stellar point guard but at others he forces things and ends up hurting the team more than he helps them. Versus UCLA, Turner had one of his best all around games of the season, scoring 9 points along with grabbing six rebounds and dishing out three assists. He also only committed two turnovers which is respectable for a freshman. At USC, Turner's stat line wasn't as impressive but his presence could still be felt whenever he was on the court. His biggest weakness over the road trip is that he often forced things, whether it be his passes or unnecessarily difficult shots. This has been a recurring problem and once he gets himself under control, he will be an even more effective player.
Kyle Fogg, C
Fogg had a rough shooting trip, going 4-11. Inconsistency has plagued him his entire career at Arizona and unfortunately this season appears no different. Fogg had three assists in both games but he also had a total five turnovers. The coaches are likely counting on that Fogg will go into a a hot shooting streak soon.
Brendon Lavender, C
B-Lav received a decent amount of playing time against both LA schools but he was unable to really step up and make a difference against UCLA when his team needed him to. Lavender was two for three from behind the arc versus the Bruins which was nice and he probably deserved to be in the game in the final couple possessions over Johnson. He didn't have as good a game against the Trojans, scoring four points but also committing three turnovers. Like Fogg, Lavender is a streaky shooter and if he finds his groove like he did a few games ago, he could have a big impact on this team.
Angelo Chol, D+
Against UCLA, Chol had a decent outing, scoring four points in 13 minutes. He went scoreless in the second game versus the Trojans due to his foul trouble. However, it was his defense that likely drew the most attention by the coachig staff. He is not nealy strong enough to be a reliable defender down low but of course he is only a freshman.
Jordin Mayes, D
Its painfully clear that Mayes has lost his shooting touch. He went 2-11 over the two games and when Arizona could have desperately used a big three pointer from him against UCLA, he wasn't able to come through. It is doubtful that Mayes will regain his starting point guard position any time soon, if ever.
Nick Johnson, D
Bunnies had a very frustrating couple days but it could turn out to be a good learning experience for him. While Johnson was not able to buy a basket in either game, he kept playing hard on both sides of the ball, which is exactly what the coaches like to see. He did make one big mistake though when he tried to get fancy with a behind the back pass in the final minute of the UCLA game when Arizona really needed to score. Once again, he will grow into a better player from a mistake like that.
Kyryl Natyazhko, D-
Kyryl had a nice rebound and putback against USC but sadly, that was about it from him. The Cats really needed him this season but thus far, he hasn't been able to help in any way.
Kevin Parrom, Incomplete
While KP received a good amount of playing time on the road trip, it's clear that he's not back to 100% yet. At this point we should be happy that he's recovering and still logging minutes for the team.
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