NCAA Basketball: Top-40 2021 G TyTy Washington looking at 6 schools
By Ian Mumm
Arizona Wildcats
The firing of head coach Sean Miller hasn’t taken many by surprise this offseason. Following several years of frustrations, including investigations by the FBI regarding the integrity of the program, 2020’s struggles on the court were the final straw for the university’s leadership. Issues of consistency were largely to blame for the 17-9 record the team produced this season, but the hiring of top Gonzaga assistant Tommy Lloyd has the team looking in a new direction.
The immediate fallout of the hire is the departure of key players and specifically in the backcourt. Point guards Jemarl Baker Jr (Fresno State), James Akinjo (undecided), Terrel Brown Jr (Washington), and Kerr Kriisa have all entered the transfer portal or found new homes already. These losses have left the team with no true point guards on the roster, even when including incoming freshman Shane Dezonie and Shane Nowell.
While the jury is still out on other current members of the program deciding to return or leave, such as guard Bennedict Mathurin (potential draft entrant) or Dalen Terry, there nonetheless remains a huge hole in the backcourt that needs to be filled. Lloyd’s first task is to try and calm the current roster and maintain as much talent in the stable as possible, but he needs more bodies as well to fill out the team. His first task has been to swiftly and fastidiously pursue Washington.
According to Washington, the two speak multiple times a day and Coach Lloyd has noted that he [Washington] is the program’s top priority this offseason. While that may just be coach speak, it cannot be understated how vital securing Washington’s talents will be for the Arizona program.
Without a strong ball-handler, this team could be in deep trouble next season, and what better way to begin the rebuilding process than to sign the top prospect in Arizona’s backyard. The match between player and program is ripe for success.