Sean Miller expects immediate impact from Finnish forward Markannen
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Sean Miller said he expects Lauri Markannen, a 7-foot forward from Helsinki, Finland, to be an immediate contributor when he arrives at Arizona for next season. Markannen is so far the only player in the Class of 2016 to sign with Arizona.
"We are elated to add Lauri Markkanen as part of the future of our program," Miller said. "Lauri is a 7-foot forward with an offensive skill level that allows him to score both on the perimeter and in the low post. He led the extremely competitive FIBA U18 European Championships in scoring this past summer while representing his home country of Finland. That performance demonstrates his unique blend of talents that make him such a special player."
Markannen represented Finland in both the FIBA U16 and U18 European Championships. He led all players in the 2015 U18 European Championships in scoring at 18.2 points game while also grabbing 6.3 rebounds per game. His play this past summer in Greece was highlighted by his 27-point, 10-rebound performance in Finland's win over the Ukraine.
"Lauri is also an exceptional student, a high-character person and a basketball player that loves the game," Miller said. "He will impact our program both on and off the court from the moment he arrives in Tucson."
Markkanen is the son of Pekka Markkanen, who lettered in basketball at Kansas University before playing professionally in Finland and on Finland's national team.
