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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Gilbert Arenas: The Saga Continues--(Sept. 27, 1998)

We just spoke with Gilbert's dad, Gilbert Arenas, Sr. and he tells us that Gilbert had a great time on his official visit at Arizona. Gilbert hung out with the team, saw his friend Ruben Douglas, and some other friends, and basically enjoyed the red-carpet treatment. "Gilbert was very impressed. Apparently the word on campus is that he's pretty important; he was actually signing autographs for students at one point. He loved the environment, the people he met, and was very happy that he took the visit," Mr. Arenas said.

Gilbert had an offer from Arizona before he took the visit, but he did not commit over the weekend. Apparently Coach Olson wants to get a committment soon from Gilbert, but will extend the offer for another week to allow Gilbert to take his third official visit, this one to DePaul. Gilbert will be at DePaul next weekend, October 3 and 4.

We also heard, from an independent source that Arizona is so interested in Gilbert that Lute will apparently hold off on having Jimmy Haywood make an official visit for a couple of weeks until he gets word from Gilbert one way or the other.

During our discussion with Mr. Arenas, he did say "I don't envy Gilbert right now. I mean, the choices are great, but he's got some really big decisions to make. Some tough decisions for a boy his age. He came back tonight with that look in his eye, like, you know, 'Wow, this is really going to be a hard decision to make.'"

And if things aren't already complicated enough, there are a couple of other major Pac-10's waiting in the wings, trying really hard to get involved.

Our feeling is that It's going to get a whole lot harder rather than easier. If you're a Wildcat fan, hold on to your hat, sit down, and buckle up, because the ride is just getting started.