TUCSON - Before Arizona seniors Kaleb Tarczewski and Gabe York forged what is likely a lifelong friendship, there was a shoe, and a ball.
The shoe was Adidas, the company that sponsored both of their travel-ball teams in high school, then paired them together for its “Adidas Nations” showcase in the late summer of 2011.
By then, York had committed to the Wildcats out of the Compton Magic program and Tarczewski, representing the New England Playaz on the other side of the country, was on the fence between UA and Kansas, with North Carolina and Kentucky secondary options.