The Front Row: The class of 2008

LOOKING AHEAD: Much has already been made about Arizona’s 2007 freshman class.

Jerryd Bayless has been featured in dozens of national top-10 lists and Jamelle Horne has earned a starting spot with his remarkable athleticism.

But true Wildcat fans manage to keep their focus on the present while glancing toward the future.

The 2008 freshman class already looks to be one of Arizona’s finest, with Wednesday’s letters of intent solidifying its status with the program.

With a No. 7 ranking from Rivals.com, this class proves that Lute Olson and his staff can still recruit with the best of them.

Here is a quick thumbnail sketch of each of the four athletes offered full athletic scholarships.

* Brandon Jennings is the crown jewel of Arizona’s 2008 class. The 6-2 point guard is ranked as the No. 1 overall recruit by ESPN.com and is recognized as a top-10 player by every other major recruiting website.

Jennings possesses a phenomenal skill set for such a young player and is blessed with an innate understanding of the complicated nuances of the point guard position.

Even though he needs to add some weight to his 160-pound frame, Jennings is a natural leader and will remind Wildcat fans of a quicker, more explosive Jason Terry.

Landing a recruit like Jennings proves that Arizona is still "Point Guard U."

He also has some Wildcat ties, having played on the same AAU summer squad as Chase Budinger in 2005.

If Budinger and Bayless opt to declare for the 2008 NBA draft, Jennings will likely take over as every Wildcat fan’s favorite player.

* Emmanuel Negedu would start for the Wildcats this season, if he was eligible.

The 6-7 power forward is an absolute beast on the interior with top-notch athletic ability.

The Wildcats’ main weakness over the past few seasons has been an alarming lack of post players willing to get inside and get their hands dirty.

Negedu will fix that immediately. Few prospects in the 2008 class hit the boards with as much intensity as Negedu.

* Jeff Withey is a 7-foot center prospect out of San Diego with highly advanced skills for his size and age.

Interim head coach Kevin O’Neill stated in Wednesday’s press conference that he hasn’t come across many 7-footers with Withey’s ability to consistently knock down a 15-foot jump shot.

It might take some time in the weight room before Withey develops into a productive player, but his upside is well worth it.

* Brendon Lavender is a versatile wing prospect out of Mesa. He is a proven winner who led his high school squad to back-to-back state titles.

He has outstanding quickness and a good jump shot with range beyond the college 3-point line.

He reminds many of current Wildcat star Jawann McClellan.

All of these players rank in ESPN.com’s top 100 and will fight for playing time next season.

QUOTABLE: " [Brandon] Jennings could be drafted right out of high school." — Arizona’s interim head coach Kevin O’Neill, getting the ball rolling on the overwhelming amount of Jennings praise Southern Arizona is sure to hear over the next couple years. Take it from someone who has seen Jennings play on more than a few occasions—the hype is justified. Check Sunday’s edition of "Open Court" for my first-hand account of the Brandon Jennings experience.

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