NCAA Basketball: Graduate transfer Max Hazzard down to seven schools

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: Evan Leonard #14 of the UC Irvine Anteaters celebrates a three-point shot with Max Hazzard #2 in the second half against the Kansas State Wildcats during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 22, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /

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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 22: Jonathan Galloway #5 and Evan Leonard #14 of the UC Irvine Anteaters celebrates a 70-64 win against the Kansas State Wildcats for their first school tournament win during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 22, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

UC Irvine

Hazzard has left the option of returning to UC Irvine for his final season in the air, and it is certainly an option that has its benefits.

For one, the Anteaters are coming off of their best season in school history, as they won thirty games during the regular season, and finished the season off with their first NCAA Tournament win in school history.

Additionally, head coach Russell Turner is returning to Irvine despite interest from many schools for their coaching vacancies, which will certainly play a big role in Hazzard’s decision.

Fellow star guard Evan Leonard is still eligible and given his performance in the NCAA Tournament, Hazzard and Leonard would combine to form a deadly 1-2 punch at guard for UC-Irvine.

While their performance and season outcome likely his a ceiling, as UC-Irvine probably won’t make it further than they did last season with Hazzard, staying home is always an option, and it is one that Hazzard should certainly consider, even though he is sought after by many big name schools.

I personally don’t think that Hazzard will stay at UC-Irvine, but you never know. The transfer process is a daunting one, and maybe it isn’t one that Hazzard thinks will benefit him greatly.

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