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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Gilbert Arenas Watch: Tracking This Cat
Is A Full Time Job--(Sept. 26, 1998)

It's not easy keeping up with Gilbert Arenas (6'-3" Sr. SG) from Grant High, who is being pursued hard by Kansas State, DePaul, and Arizona.

Last weekend when we saw Gilbert and his dad, they both told us that Gilbert really wanted to just play basketball this weekend. They said that they had both enjoyed the visit to Kansas, but that Gilbert wanted to play at the Rim Rattler Fall Showcase this weekend. Gil, Sr., said that they wanted to take two more official visits, first to DePaul, then Arizona the following week. But as things turned out this week, lots of people, including one of Gilbert's AAU coaches, Rob Ichart, convinced him to take an official visit first to Arizona. "We got more calls than you'd believe from people telling us that if Coach Olson offers, he doesn't like to be kept waiting."

So far, it doesn't look like there's been an offer, but given the vacillation by Jimmy Haywood from Seattle Franklin, we'd say that Gilbert would be the top pick for Arizona at the guard spot right now. The only question for Gilbert will be whether he would see enought playing time to satisfy himself, given that he'd most likely be sharing the spot with the Valley's other big time scorer from last season, Ruben Douglas (6'-5" Fr. SG) from Bell-Jeff. Is there room enough for both of them? Who knows; Ruben hasn't even played a minute of Arizona basketball, and it's just a bit premature to be writing him off as many are doing. We think Ruben will do just fine, thank you.

Of course taking the visit this weekend meant that Gil had to miss the games today at Long Beach City College. It would mean getting out of school early. It would mean having to reschedule an orthodontist appointment for the umpteenth time.

But this was an important visit, so all of that would have to wait. Gilbert was scheduled to fly out to Tucson yesterday. He was going to take the official visit to Arizona, check it out, and if things worked out, he'd consider the opportunity.

Only one little glitch occurred along the way: Gilbert missed the plane.

Really. Arenas was scheduled to fly out yesterday in the late afternoon, but he missed the plane.

Of course, like a streetcar, an elevator, or a bus, there's always another plane coming along, and Southwest thoughtfully had one flight to Tucson scheduled, and Gilbert did make that one.

But he made the trip without his usual companion, Gilbert Arenas, Sr. It seems that Gilbert, Sr., had some car trouble (probably the reason for the missed flight) and decided to stay home. Some might think this is sort of unusual and wouldn't bode well for the Cats, but we don't think there's much for Arizona fans to read into the fact that Gil's dad isn't there: Gil's dad told us this morning that he had decided not to make the trip with his son because "I've got to get my car fixed, and I've got some other stuff to do." He added, "Gilbert was really looking forward to this trip, and wanted to make the visit on his own, so I decided this time to stay home."

After finally getting him on a flight, Gil's dad got a phone call from Coach Olson last night informing him that Gilbert had arrived safely on campus, and was having a good time hanging out with Miles Simon and Mike Bibby, both of whom were still in town because, well, with the NBA lockout, they're still in town.

Arenas will work out today with some of the players, and then will probably do some more visiting and hanging, and getting to know the campus and the players. He's scheduled to fly back tomorrow afternoon.

We'll see if he makes the plane.