Arizona freshman guard Kerr Kriisa touched back down in Tucson on Thursday night as he returned back to the United States after traveling home to Estonia to take part in an event with his country's senior national team. Kriisa was not cleared by the NCAA to play in Arizona's season opener, so head coach Sean Miller permitted the freshman to make the trip overseas and play in the event.

There had been some speculation that Kriisa could end up staying in his home country considering his situation back in Tucson, but Miller quickly shot that down after UA's win over Grambling State last Friday.

"He's coming back at the conclusion of the tournament," Miller said. "I don't have a crystal ball. I don't have the NCAA's phone number. They don't tell me what they're going to do two weeks from now as it applies to amateurism and eligibility. All that we can do is send Kerr home to compete for his country, talk to him every day and wait on his return.

"I guess he has the option of not returning, but I can't give you a wholehearted evaluation or answer of his mindset at the conclusion of the tournament. I wish he was eligible. We believe that he could or should be, but that's not up to me to comment on. I'm the coach of the team, and we'll let our compliance office and Kerr and his family deal with that issue. We have our fingers crossed that at some point he can join us like four or five other players from Europe that came here the same way he did."

Kriisa, if cleared, is expected to be a major contributor for the Wildcats this season and his value was clear Friday night when the team did not have him available as he was overseas. Jemarl Baker Jr. is Arizona's other ball-handling guard and he found himself in early foul trouble against Grambling State forcing starting point guard James Akinjo to play 38 minutes in the game.

Kriisa has the ability to play both on and off the ball and is likely going to fit into the backup point guard role for the Wildcats this season.

Akinjo said after Friday's game that while the team missed not having Kriisa's talent on the floor to open the season he is confident there are enough players to carry the load until he can make his college debut.

The Wildcats will play their second game of the season when they host Eastern Washington this Saturday at 12 p.m. MST after having two games this week canceled.

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