DAVID SANDERS / arizona daily star 2007

Other articles by Bruce Pascoe:

McClellan's outlook goes from awful to 'awe' full No change in Jennings' UA status Bayless has familiar faces in his corner UA, Jennings expect to wait week for test score76ers offer UA's McClellan summer-league roster spot LOWS AND HIGHS Jennings' status remains unclear; no score yet Arizona Wildcats basketball: Bayless traded to PortlandArizona Wildcats basketball: Jennings score not coming today No couch potato tonight

Engineering
Knight Piesold & Co
Engineer General
The Graham Group
Assistant to the Building Manager Mechanical
Pioneer Landscaping
Diesel Fleet Mechanic General
Grocery/Market Mgr-Cafe/Restaurant Mgr Driver/Transportation
RENZENBERGER
ROAD AND YARD VAN DRIVERS Production and Manufacturing
Pioneer Landscaping
Crushing Crew Trades/Construction
Wentz and Patrick Construction
Carpenters & Helpers

On the first day of the fall signing period, Jeff Withey and Emmanuel Negedu did not even wait until lunchtime to fax their letters of intent to Arizona.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, that will not help them get to McKale Center any sooner.

Withey and Negedu, who signed Wednesday along with top-10 guard Brandon Jennings and wing Brendon Lavender of Mesa to make a highly regarded four-man class of 2008, are both top-50 post players who analysts suggest could probably make a serious bid for joining the Wildcats' playing rotation.

Right now.

While UA interim head coach Kevin O'Neill would not go that far, even considering the Wildcats' weakness in the post so far this season, he said the group was a "great fit for our needs."

"This was a much-needed recruiting class for us," O'Neill said. "It's a big-time recruiting class on a national level, and the kind of recruiting class you can count on coming in and playing basketball right off for you."

Although Negedu and Withey are much different players — Withey is a skilled scorer up while Negedu is a force around the basket — they both should be able to find immediate roles next season.

"Negedu is that blue-collar athlete that Arizona is anxious to have this year," said Clark Francis, publisher of HoopScoop. "Withey has really improved. He's really skilled, although he needs to get bigger and stronger."

O'Neill said he has not been around a freshman with the skill development Withey has, which includes the ability to shoot up to 15 or 16 feet. The only thing that could hold him back, Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com said, will be strength and defense.

"They key will be how he defends in the low post," Meyer said. "That's the weak spot of his game. He's a finesse-type player, and his offensive game is his strength.

"Guys like Negedu are sometimes hard to get a gauge on, but you know you get a great motor and a great athlete. He should be a very good defender. The question is how do you fit him in offensively."

Withey, who works out with Trent Suzuki, the same personal trainer as UA wing Chase Budinger, said Wednesday he is aware of the challenge.

"I want to work my way in so I can start so I can help them right away," Withey said. "I want to gain weight so I can help."

Negedu, a native of Nigeria now playing at New Hampshire's Brewster Academy, said Wednesday he was also eager to get going.

"I can't wait for next season, you know?" Negedu said.

While Withey and Negedu must answer a few questions before next season, UA has virtually no worries with Jennings, who tore up the Cactus Classic summer-league event last May before committing two days afterward.

All by himself, Jennings moved the Wildcats' 2008 class into consensus top-10 range.

"His presence is prominent in this recruiting class because he's far and away best at his position nationally," Scout analyst Dave Telep said. "He's going to be a guy who makes money playing the game. He's a big deal."

In fact, O'Neill indicated, if it were not for the NBA rule prohibiting players from being drafted until a year after their high school class graduates, Jennings could have been taken out of high school.

"He's a big-time point guard," O'Neill said. "Just a great, great talent. He's going to be capable of double-double on many nights, points and assists."

O'Neill, who noted that the Wildcats had to toughen up their "culture" following a 76-69 win over NAU on Tuesday, said he also liked the recruits' backgrounds. Withey helped San Diego Horizon High to a state regional championship game last season; Lavender has played on two 5A champion teams at Mesa Mountain View; and Negedu and Jennings play for strong prep programs.

To UA assistant coach Josh Pastner, who began recruiting Jennings and Withey as high school freshman, that kind of success makes a difference.

"What really makes our class is that they all come from really good programs," Pastner said. "They're all good kids, but you can't put a price tag on winning programs."