Although he didn’t sign the next day, McMillan told reporters that he would by the end of the week. At that point, Arizona’s outlook changed.
“Now you’re in it,” Fisch said. “Now you’re fully in the fight. … Now you’re in a full-court press.”
Jedd Fisch never gave up on Tetairoa McMillan in recruiting, and the star receiver ended up choosing the Wildcats.
While McMillan’s other finalists were in the midst of staff changes — USC hired Lincoln Riley in late November to replace interim coach Donte Williams — Fisch could sell stability. He also had three aces up his sleeve: Fifita, Burnett and Manu.
They weren’t the only Southern California standouts to join Arizona’s class. The Wildcats also inked four-star defensive end Sterling Lane, four-star cornerback Ephesians Prysock and three-star receiver Kevin Green Jr., among others. The latter two previously had been committed to USC.
“When he started seeing that there were guys that he’s grown up playing against that were signing (with) Arizona … that was a huge thing for us,” Fisch said. “When you start seeing that all these guys are turning down top programs to come with us, I think it made him feel good about coming with us also.”
McMillan, Fifita and their friends play basketball regularly, including that Friday night when McMillan finalized his decision. At one point he told the group, “If I make this basket, I’m going to Oregon. If I miss, I’m going to Arizona.” He then hoisted what Winnona Fifita described as an “exaggerated air ball.”