When Arizona hired Tommy Lloyd off of Gonzaga head coach Mark Few’s bench, many pointed to Lloyd’s recruiting chops in helping build the Zags into a consistent national title contender as a huge potential plus for the Wildcats. As his first season at the helm has shown, he was the right man for the job for more than just his recruiting prowess.

But if you’re able to connect with players and put out a national contender right away, recruiting is going to be a little easier and those elite prospects are going to be a little more interested in what you’re selling. On Monday, the Wildcats landed the first 5-star commit of the Lloyd era in 2023 point guard Kylan Boswell.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound point guard out of Chandler (Ariz.) Compass Prep committed to the Wildcats over UNLV, Arizona State, Illinois, Auburn, and others. He ranks as the No. 2 point guard prospect in his class and the No. 11 player overall, according to the 247 Composite.

“Coach Tommy Lloyd really believes in me and thinks I can fit in their system,” Boswell told 247Sports. “Overall, he’s been there since the beginning of my recruitment. I loved this process with them and we have built a great relationship, I’ve been to the university multiple times and it’s a great atmosphere. It feels like it’s just the best fit for me.”

A sturdy, hard-nosed guard, Boswell should be able to come in and pick up the reins for Lloyd and the Wildcats right away. He gets after it on the defensive end, possessing solid length to be a plus defender on that side of the floor. Then on the offensive side of the ball, he shows off a strong feel for the game with good vision and sound decision-making. He gets inside and finishes with either hand through contact or over bigger defenders.

Boswell told 247Sports that potentially reclassifying to the 2022 class is an option, but that no decision has been made yet on that front. He’s the first known commitment for the Wildcats in the 2023 cycle.