Walk-ons give football more possible choices

A day after the Arizona football team signed 23 players to play for them next season, they went searching for talent in a different way.

The Wildcats held walk-on tryouts for UA students yesterday on the football practice field. About 40 players were put through individual drills, were weighed and measured and had their 40-yard dash time taken. In all, the tryout lasted less than an hour.

Recruiting coordinator Rob Ianello said that the team doesn't have a set number of students that they will keep, but could invite a number of athletes back for spring practice.

"We are looking for some type of athleticism relative to the position they play," said Ianello. "We are looking for speed and any kind of quality we think we can develop."

The Wildcats have a number of walk-on players on their roster. Freshman defensive lineman Copeland Bryan walked on in 2001 at the start of fall camp and this past season was given a scholarship for his efforts.

"The walk-on program is a developmental program," said Ianello. "Hopefully we can take a young man and develop his abilities to some day help the team."

Soccer player earns regional recognition

UA soccer player Kelly Nelson was named yesterday to the West Region All-Freshman Team by Soccer Buzz magazine.

Voting was conducted by the magazine of coaches and players from each of the 285 NCAA Division I soccer programs, along with the magazine's staff.

Nelson, a redshirt freshman forward from Lakewood, Calif., led the Pac-10 in goals during the fall 2002 regular season with 13, setting a new UA single-season record for goals scored. She tied school records for most points in a season (27), most game-winning goals in a season (three, most total points in a game (10), and most goals in a game (five).

Nelson also earned second-team Pac-10 honors.

Former UA basketball stars ready to shine

For Arizona basketball fans, this weekend's action is not limited to the game with Washington State, as former Wildcats showcase their talents on the NBA's All-Star Weekend.

Ex-UA players Richard Jefferson from the New Jersey Nets and Gilbert Arenas from the Golden State Warriors, both of the UA's 2001 National runner-up team, will look to school the best rookies when they play for the Sophomores in the "got milk? Rookie Challenge" at about 2 p.m. on TNT cable network.

In the NBA All-Star Saturday Night, which is slated to begin at 6 p.m., former UA player Jason Terry will be in the Jeep All-Star Hoop-It-Up. The event is a 3-on-3 half court game with teams consisting of an NBA star, a former NBA star, a WNBA star and a celebrity.

Jefferson is also set to participate in the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk contest this year for the first time. He will square off against fellow first timer Amare Stoudamire of the Phoenix Suns, 2001 champion Desmond Mason of the Seattle Sonics, and defending champion Jason Richardson of the Golden State Warriors. During the 2001 NCAA Final Four with the Wildcats, Jefferson squared off against Richardson two years ago while Richardson was a member of Michigan State.

Terry's team consists of Dominique Wilkens, Sheryl Swoopes and Frankie Muniz of "Malcolm in the Middle."