Brandon Ashley
6-8, 215
Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nevada
–Brandon Ashley is a combo forward from Oakland, Calif., who is playing his senior year at powerhouse Findlay Prep. He had 30-point efforts in each of his first two games this season. UA freshman guard Nick Johnson spent the past two seasons at Findlay Prep, and establishing a pipeline there could become a cornerstone of coach Sean Miller’s program.
In the grand plan, Ashley will someday be playing small forward at Arizona, with fellow recruit Grant Jerrett at power forward and 7-footer Kaleb Tarczewski at center.
What Arizona Wildcats coach Sean Miller says about Ashley:
“Brandon Ashley is someone we’ve recruited almost since the very day we got here as a staff. He’s at Findlay Prep for his senior year. Watching Nick Johnson and how ready he is for college, I think Brandon is going to be equally prepared — living away from home, playing for a great coach like Mike Peck. Coupling his experiences in the summer with the Oakland Soldiers with Findlay Prep, he’s playing against the best players in the country. I really believe in him as a kid. He’s a winner.
“He could play a number of positions at Arizona. Small forward is one of them. If you think about his size, he’ll remind you of some of the old Arizona teams with guys like Richard Jefferson at the position. He could play the 4 as well.
“It’s up to us to put him in the right position. The combinations that Brandon can be on the court with are really numerous.”
Brandon Ashley at the Boost Mobile Elite in Venice Beach, Calif., this summer. Photo by Gary Randazzo, Wildcat Sports Report
What Ashley says about Miller as a recruiter:
“It’s just the fact that he’s one of the younger coaches around, and he’s easy to relate to. He also has a great staff around him. When you’re winning, that also makes your recruiting job a little easier.
“All kids want to go to a school where they can go in and win and hopefully get to that next level and coach Miller provides that.” (Source: Arizona Daily Wildcat)
–Ashley, who is rated the No. 1 forward in the country by Scout.com, picked Arizona over Kentucky, UCLA and Oregon.
–Jeff Borzello of CBSSports.com wrote: “He has one of the best skillsets of any frontcourt prospect, using his athleticism and length to make plays in a variety of ways. Ashley can run the floor and finish in transition, but he also has effective post moves around the basket. He can step out and knock down face-up jumpers, and he is also solid on the defensive end and on the glass.”
–Ian Powers of NBADraft.net scouted Ashley this summer.
Ashley’s versatility was a joy to watch last week. He has been on a tear since the NBA camp and the questions about his consistency and motor are starting to become non issues. He gave every player he matched up against fits because of the diversity of his game. When he entered high school he was strictly a low post player who relied on athleticism and length to get things done. He has added a reliable 15 to 17 jumper and has a face up game that utilizes his quickness against other bigs. He has great form on his shot and seems to be working to extend his shooting range. He is a super talent and top 10 player in his class. He has a chance to be special if he continues adding dimensions to his game.
Where Ashley ranks nationally
| Player | Scout | Rivals | ESPNU | CBS Sports | 247sports | Hot100hoops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Ashley | 3 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
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