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Kendrick Perkins, one of ESPN’s leading NBA studio analysts and a 14-year NBA veteran, last week applauded Arizona’s hiring of assistant basketball coach Brandon Chappell, who coached at Texas last season. Perkins used X (social media) to declare, “Shoutout to my brother for joining one of the most historic basketball programs in college sports!!! Love you my brother and proud of you.� Perkins and Chappell played together at Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas, leading to the 2001 state championship finish. Chappell has certainly paid his dues while climbing the coaching ladder, going from Armstrong State and Arkansas-Fort Smith to UNLV, NAU and Texas before joining Tommy Lloyd’s staff.

– Remember Mike Dunlap, who was an assistant coach on Arizona’s 2009 Sweet 16 team, paired with interim head coach Russ Pennell after Lute Olson’s sudden retirement? Dunlap is now the head coach of NCAA Division II Colorado-Mesa College in suburban Denver. Last week, Dunlap signed Pima College point guard Cohenj Gonzales, the ACCAC Player of the Year. Since leaving Tucson, Dunlap has been the head coach of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, the head coach at Loyola-Marymount, and an assistant coach at Oregon, St. John’s and the NBA Milwaukee Bucks.

– Impressive Arizona junior outfielder Brendan Summerhill last week was projected as the No. 15 overall pick in next month’s MLB Draft by the Athletic’s Keith Law, one of the most reputable draft gurus in the business. If Summerhill is indeed a first-round pick, he’ll be the 17th Wildcat to become a No. 1 choice. The impressive list includes Eddie Leon, Steve Powers, Craig Chamberlain, Terry Francona, Tommy Hinzo, Joe Magrane, Alan Zinter, Lance Dickson, Ben Diggins, Brian Anderson, Trevor Crowe, Ryan Perry, Daniel Schlereth, Kevin Newman, Austin Wells and Chase Davis.