By JACOB POLACHECK
Arizona has landed a commitment from top international prospect Daniel Batcho, he told ESPN Thursday.
“I had a good connection with the coaching staff,” Batcho told ESPN. “They really understood my priorities and showed me how I could reach my goals at the university.”
A 6-foot-10 power forward from France, Batcho was named MVP of the Adidas Next Generation Tournament Belgrade in February finishing with 24 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in the final against Partizan.
He joins an Arizona team that lost seven of its top eight players from last season.
“I expect to be a leader, but I know that I will have to earn my stripes first,” Batcho told ESPN. “It was good to see that Arizona has had success with international players in the past. That shows they have a global understanding of the game that goes beyond the U.S. boundaries. I definitely want to keep this tradition and have success there myself.”
Batcho joins an Arizona recruiting class that has international flavor and also includes Haitian Canadian wing Ben Mathurin and Estonian point guard Kerr Kriisa.
They will also bring in four-star forward Dalen Terry and transfers Terrell Brown Jr. and James Akinjo.
Photo: FIBA
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