Tommy Lloyd’s Arizona roster looks loaded on paper, but the real story is how many new faces will have to shape the Wildcats right away.
Arizona brought in 10 newcomers around returning center Mo Krivas and forward Ivan Kharchenkov, rebuilding after losing Koa Peat, Brayden Burries, and Jaden Bradley to the NBA. The result is a group widely viewed as top five nationally, with Krivas and Kharchenkov both in the mix for Big 12 First Team consideration. Even so, this season’s ceiling will hinge on how quickly the newcomers settle in.
The headliner is Caleb Holt, the McDonald’s All-American guard who gives Lloyd another elite domestic recruiting win. Holt is a 6'5 guard ranked No. 2 in the 247Sports composite rankings and a legitimate candidate to go No. 1 overall in the 2027 NBA draft.
He’s long, relentless getting downhill, and brings the kind of 6'9 wingspan and toughness that should make him a real factor on defense from day one. There’s even a path where he leads Arizona in scoring as a freshman.
Another major addition is RJ Godfrey, though his status remains unresolved. Godfrey is currently ineligible after his lawsuit in Georgia was granted a stay request by the NCAA, and Arizona is still waiting to see whether he’ll be able to suit up this season.
If he does play, he fits cleanly into Lloyd’s system. The 6'7 forward is a physical rebounder, scores efficiently around the rim, and arrives with four years of experience at Clemson at a time when Arizona has been searching for answers up front.
In the backcourt, the Wildcats won’t ask one player to replace Jaden Bradley. Instead, that responsibility falls on sophomore transfers Derek Dixon and JJ Mandaquit.
Dixon, who comes over from North Carolina, is the presumed starter after averaging 6.5 points, 2.7 assists, and just 1.2 turnovers in 22.3 minutes per game last season while shooting 39.7% from three. At 6'5, he has the size, handle, and shot-making to make a serious leap in Tucson.
Playing alongside Holt and Ivan Kharchenkov could open the door to a breakout year.
Mandaquit gives Arizona another steady option at point guard. The 6'1 guard was coached by Lloyd at the U19 FIBA World Cup in 2025 and posted 5.2 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 turnovers in about 20 minutes per game last year at Washington. His outside shot was a weak spot - he shot 28.2% from deep - but Arizona is likely to use both playmakers plenty this season.
Cameron Holmes is another newcomer who could see his role expand depending on Godfrey’s situation. The 6'6 wing has major athletic upside, plus a 6'9 wingspan and the strength to finish through contact.
His brother, DaRon Holmes, was an All-American at Dayton and now plays for the Denver Nuggets. Cameron looks like a plug-and-play two-way wing, and he may be asked to log real minutes early if Arizona needs Kharchenkov to slide up.
Arizona also added size overseas. Aleksa Brnovic came in from BC Zalgiris in Lithuania, where he averaged 8.1 points and 3.2 rebounds.
The 6'10 Montenegrin was expected to start at power forward for much of the offseason and should still be a major frontcourt piece, likely as the third big behind Krivas and Godfrey. If Godfrey can’t play and Arizona wants to keep Kharchenkov on the wing, Brnovic’s role could grow even more.
Then there’s Braden Jarusevicius, who is on his fourth school after stops at Cal-State Bakersfield and Central Michigan and a brief appearance at Nebraska. A back injury cut short his season after he scored seven points with two blocks in 11 minutes, but the 6'10 big man has already shown what he can do, averaging 16.2 points and 7.3 rebounds in the MAC in 2024-25 at Central Michigan. If he’s healthy, he can absolutely push Brnovic for frontcourt minutes.
Arizona’s depth in the paint is deep enough that Evan Otten, despite leading the Big Sky in blocks in each of the past two seasons, may have a hard time carving out regular playing time. Otten doesn’t offer much beyond rim protection, but that alone makes the 6'11 big a useful rotation option in the Big 12.
The final two newcomers are more developmental pieces. Endi arrived from Germany, where he averaged 11 points and 1.5 blocks for the Radiopharm developmental team, and Aiyamenkhue is another 6'11 big man who figures to be a long-term project for Lloyd and the Wildcats.
Arizona’s walk-on, Rigdon, rounds out the group. He played at Pacifica Christian High School in Newport Beach, where he averaged 9.9 points and 1.9 assists as a senior. His father, Dylan, played at Arizona in 1993 and 1994, and he’ll join the bench mob alongside Jackson Cook and Addison Arnold this season.
In Other News...
Arizona Faces A Tricky Road Test Against A New Look Washington State
Arizona heads to Pullman for a non-conference matchup with Washington State at a time when the Cougars are still trying to find their footing under a new staff. Kirby Moore is in his first season leading the program, and the roster has been reshaped around a wave of new players, making this one of those early-season road trips that can look very different on paper than it does once the ball is kicked off. For the Wildcats, it comes with a clear edge in motivation after their recent win and a chance to keep building momentum away from home.
Washington State has already shown enough to make this more than a simple reset game, though. The Cougars are coming off a convincing win over Duquesne and have flashed the kind of special teams play that can swing a game in a hurry, which adds another wrinkle for Arizona as it chases its first road victory of the season. With a new quarterback settling in and a staff still shaping the identity of the program, the Cougars are a bit of a moving target, and that is exactly what makes this trip a tricky one for Arizona. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Gets An Early Test Against A Familiar Team With New Questions
Washington State arrives as a familiar name with an unfamiliar tag line, now an independent after the Pac-12 breakup and still trying to sort out what this version of the Cougars looks like. For Arizona, it is an early measuring-stick game against a former conference rival, and the scouting conversation has centered on whether the Cougars can make life difficult for the Wildcats offense. Nate Dahl of Coug Center said Washington State has shown enough to be respected, but also enough unevenness to leave the matchup open to interpretation.
Much of the attention has fallen on quarterback Caden Pinnick, whose game brings some clear strengths along with questions about consistency. The Cougars also have skill-position options who can matter if the passing game settles in, while the defense has shown it can hold up in stretches. Arizona does not need a rivalry backdrop to know this is the kind of September test that can reveal a lot, and Washington State still has a few key answers to provide before anyone can say exactly how dangerous this team can be. [Read more 🡒]
Northern Arizona Heads Into Montana State With Something To Prove
Montana State and Northern Arizona both come into this Big Sky matchup with some early-season baggage, even after finding a way to win last week. The Bobcats squeezed past Central Connecticut State despite turnover problems and a deficit in first downs, while Northern Arizona handled Utah Tech in a game that still left room for concern on both sides of the ball.
For the Wildcats, the trip to Montana State offers a chance to show their opener was more than just survival. Coaches on both sides have already pointed to the need for cleaner football, and that makes this one feel like more than another conference game in September. Northern Arizona has a chance to prove it can tighten up the details against a tougher opponent, but it will have to do so on the road in one of the leagues more demanding environments. [Read more 🡒]