The cost of Caleb Love's return for Arizona? Four-star guards Joson Sanon, Jamari Phillips part with Wildcats

Love's decision to return and the crunch it put on backcourt minutes undoubtedly played a role in the two decommitments

By Cameron Salerno May 29, 2024 at 7:59 pm ET• 2 min read

Four-star Class of 2024 guards Joson Sanon and Jamari Phillips backed off their respective pledges to Arizona just hours after Pac-12 Player of the Year Caleb Love announced he would be returning for his final season in Tucson on Wednesday. 

Sanon, who ranked as the No. 22 player in the 2024 recruiting cycle by 247Sports, had committed to Arizona in March. Phillips, the No. 52 player in 2024, had signed with Arizona during the November signing period. 

Love's decision to return and the crunch it put on backcourt minutes and perhaps NIL dollars undoubtedly played a role in the two decommitments, especially Sanon's (in a devilish twist, Sanon imminently flipped to Arizona State). 

"Even before Sanon committed to Arizona, his recruitment had been a bit of a rollercoaster," 247Sports National Basketball Director Eric Boosi said. "Despite Sanon and those around him assuring Tommy Lloyd that his commitment was secure, there had been a growing feeling that Sanon would never make it to Tucson if Love returned. That he backed out almost immediately is no surprise though his pledge to Arizona State came quicker than anticipated."