Ivan Rabb NCAA Basketball Recruiting Decision: Pros and Cons for Arizona vs. Cal

Before Friday's NCAA men's basketball tournament action began, Ivan Rabb made some big news in the recruiting world. 

According to ESPN's Paul Biancardi, Rabb has narrowed his list of perspective schools down to Cal and Arizona:

Earning a commitment from Rabb would be a big deal for both schools, but the big man's signature would be more meaningful to the Golden Bears. 

Below is a look at some pros and cons for Rabb at both schools before his announcement becomes official. 

Playing Time Opportunity

Rabb would earn a ton of playing time in Berkeley given the current state of the Golden Bears. 

David Kravish and Christian Behrens, who were the top two forwards in the rebounds-per-game category for the Bears in 2014-15, were seniors, and there is no instant replacement in sight if Rabb does not commit to Cal. 

The one negative about joining the Cal program will be the heavy reliance on the player. This past season three of the team's top rebounders were guards. Rabb will be expected to pull down boards on a consistent basis in order for the Golden Bears to pack a punch.

At Arizona, there is no guarantee that Rabb will start right away for Sean Miller's Wildcats. Assuming all of the underclassmen return to school, the current high school senior would compete with Kaleb Tarczewski and Brandon Ashley for a starting gig. 

The likeliness of Rabb beating out one of the two established big men is slim, which is why a role off the bench will await him if he chooses to go to Tucson. 

Advantage: Cal 

Proximity to Home

Cal is the hometown school for Rabb, who could still choose the Pac-12 powerhouse Arizona over the Golden Bears. 

Cuonzo Martin's team has the obvious edge when it comes down to proximity. And Rabb's signing would be a major statement by Martin in the recruiting field. If he can land Rabb, it may pave the path for other local players to sign with the program. Joe Davidson of The Sacramento Bee had this to say: 

Adjusting to life away from home is something plenty of Wildcats have experience dealing with. As an extra plus, Arizona contains a Bay Area native on its roster in Ashley, who may be able to relate to Rabb. 

Other than that small connection, the Wildcats are at a disadvantage when it comes to the distance between Rabb's home and Arizona's college campus. 

Advantage: Cal 

Style of Play

Martin's teams have never been known as game-changers in the offensive department, but his system is friendly to big men. 

The former Tennessee head coach likes to put an emphasis on defending first, which may help Rabb if his shots don't fall to start the season. 

John Froschauer/Associated Press

Arizona also has no problem with feeding its big men on offense, but a player's defensive abilities help him earn more time on the hardwood. 

A perfect example of this is Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who prides himself on his defense. Hollis-Jefferson is a strong point producer when he needs to be, but his defense is what keeps him on the court. 

Regardless of which program he chooses, Rabb will have to thrive on defense in order to stay in the good graces of his collegiate coach. 

Advantage: Arizona 

National Spotlight

Let's be completely honest here. Cal basketball has rarely been relevant over the last two decades. Under Ben Braun and Mike Montgomery, the Golden Bears were generally an average team. They made the NCAA tournament nine times during their collective 18 years as coach, advancing past the second round only twice.

In order to gain more national attention, Cal must play impressive basketball over its nonconference schedule. It must also win a few key Pac-12 games before it receives a massive amount of praise from the national media. 

On an individual basis, Rabb will receive some plaudits for his actions on the court if he puts up respectable numbers. Regardless of what team a player suits up for, if he puts up impressive stats, people will notice. 

Arizona absolutely has the edge in this category, as the Wildcats are one of the premier teams in the country. Miller is also one of the top coaches in the nation, and whenever he has his team firing on all cylinders, it earns plenty of credit for its actions. 

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

With the national spotlight comes a ton of scrutiny. If Rabb commits to Arizona and fails to succeed early on, he will face more criticism. 

Advantage: Arizona 

NBA Draft Potential 

If Rabb opts to go to the NBA after one season in college, it would benefit him to head to Cal in order to gain more action on the court. 

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

There is no doubt he will play a significant number of minutes for the Golden Bears due to the need for a big man after the departures of Kravish and Behrens. 

Arizona presents an interesting case for Rabb's professional potential because he will be surrounded by plenty of high-quality college players. Playing at the highest echelon of college basketball with some future pros could help Rabb ease into the NBA. 

Advantage: Cal 

All signs are pointing to Rabb committing to the Golden Bears, and based off the qualities we examined above, it would be a smart move for him to head to Berkeley. 

Rabb will receive plenty of playing time close to home and will have a chance to bring Cal basketball into the national spotlight. He can do that all while gaining attention from the next level. 

With mostly everything trending in Cal's favor, it would be a shock if Rabb didn't commit to the Golden Bears. 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.