Arizona Basketball: Allonzo Trier returns for Junior season
By Connor Hope
Despite expectations of an early departure, Allonzo Trier decides to return for another season with the Arizona Wildcats.
After the Arizona Wildcats fell to the Xavier Musketeers in the Sweet 16, the question became who would leave.
Senior guard Kadeem Allen graduated, leaving a pretty big hole defensively. Freshman forward Lauri Markkanen declared for the draft in March and will almost certainly be a lottery pick.
The biggest question mark, however, was sophomore guard Allonzo Trier. Trier was the Wildcats’ star player, leading Arizona to Pac-12 regular season and tournament titles.
In 18 games this season, including the postseason, Trier averaged 17.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. These numbers were phenomenal, considering he did not play any of the non-conference games.
Trier had a very unusual start to the season, sitting out the first 19 games without much explanation. It was revealed just prior to his season debut that Trier was sitting out due to a failed drug test. Trier appealed a suspension and convinced the NCAA that he had no knowledge of the banned substance and that he took it after sustaining an injury.
While Trier will be a solid NBA player, he is making the right choice in returning for his Junior season.
By playing one more year, Trier will be able to give NBA scouts a larger sample size and show his ability to sustain his numbers over the course of a full season. He will also develop for one more season under Sean Miller, possibly even sneaking into the lottery pick conversation.
Trier’s return does not only benefit him, but it also makes Arizona a National Championship contender.
Despite losing Markkanen and Allen, Arizona still returns a solid group of young players. The Wildcats also have the No. 3 ranked recruiting class per ESPN, including the No. 2 recruit DeAndre Ayton.
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Trier brings a veteran presence that will make the Wildcats a force come March. If he continues his development, we could be talking about a top pick in the 2018 draft.