Meanwhile, Johnson is projected as a second-round pick who might elevate himself into the first round. Miller said during last season that leaving to become a second-round pick would be a significant setback but said today that Johnson received enough positive feedback to suggest that leaving is a good decision.

"Generally if someone leaves early you want them to be a first-round pick," Miller said. "Learning a lot from the feedback we got on Nick, looking at how physically developed he is... there’s a chance he comes back for that fourth year and maybe not be as coveted.

"Nick knows (his prospects). He is not in La-La land."

While Tarczewski said his decision to stay was based on having "unfinished business" after UA lost in the Elite Eight of last season's NCAA tournament, Hollis-Jefferson said he stayed in part because his goal was to be a Top 10 NBA pick.

Hollis-Jefferson was projected as a first-round pick if he left now but could rise into the lottery of the 2015 draft with improvement next season.

"My goal my whole life was to be a top 10 pick, and I believe I can do so," Hollis-Jefferson said. "I think I'll put on about 10 more pounds of muscle and work on my jump shot and just become more of a leader. I think I can do that."

Miller said he did not expect any transfers out of the UA program this spring. With Gordon and Johnson leaving, the Wildcats will be at exactly the scholarship maximum of 13 players once Serbian center Dusan Ristic signs his letter-of-intent during the spring signing period that begins Wednesday.

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