NCAA Basketball: Top-40 2021 G TyTy Washington looking at 6 schools
By Ian Mumm
LSU Tigers
The Louisiana State program has consistently been making noise in the college basketball world with coach Will Wade at the helm. Whether it’s on the court or the recruiting trail, the Tigers have been in the thick of the action and working their way up the SEC standings. Amassing an 86-42 (67.2%) record in four seasons, Coach Wade has relied on strong guard play to power his teams to NCAA Tournament success.
In each of his seasons with the program, Wade has featured a dynamic guard capable of strong production in multiple areas on the court. Tremont Waters, Skyler Mays and Cam Thomas (soon-to-be) have each transitioned their success in a Tigers uniform as a springboard towards the NBA ranks. However, this summer finding a player who is ready to take up that mantle in 2021 is not entirely clear.
Sophomore guard Eric Gaines still has a lot of potential in his skillset to make significant progress in his development ahead of next season. Incoming freshman Brandon Murray (IMG Academy) is a key depth piece being added this offseason following the departures of Thomas, Javonte Smart, and Darius Days to the NBA Draft and Jalen Cook to transfer.
Xavier Pinson (Missouri) and Seneca Knight (San Jose State) are desperate and experienced additions to an incredibly depleted backcourt stable, but still, there is not a player on the roster currently of Washington’s caliber.
LSU’s on-court system is very advantageous for a player of his pedigree. Coach Wade likes to get his players out in space where they can utilize their athleticism and spacing to get easy buckets. This is undoubtedly right up Washington’s alley as a complete scoring threat, however, the Tigers also need his ability to create and open up the floor for the rest of the team in the half-court.
Even with Pinson now in the fold, this would completely be Washington’s team if he joined the program much in the way Thomas dominated it this year.