|
|
|
Parker Jackson-Cartwright might be diminutive at 5-foot-7 but the Class of 2014 point guard stands tall with Sean Miller’s plans for that recruiting class.
Arizona’s point-guard-in-waiting T.J. McConnell (who is not playing this season after transferring from Duquesne) will be a senior when Jackson-Cartwright is a freshman, a perfect transition that includes a veteran teaching a youngster the ropes in practice for one entire season.
This has been a common occurrence with Point Guard U., dating back to when Kenny Lofton learned his craft under Steve Kerr from 1985-88. The string of grooming point guards for future starts in their careers lasted at Arizona until Mike Bibby, Jason Gardner and Mustafa Shakur started a trend of freshmen taking over the most important position on the floor from the beginning of their careers.
Jason Terry started in between Bibby and Gardner during this stretch as a senior in 1998-99 after playing behind Reggie Geary in 1995-96 and Bibby in 1996-97 and 1997-98. Terry’s patience paid off as he was selected the Pac-10 Player of the Year as a senior.
T.J. McConnell will take over the starting point guard role next season as a junior
The point-guard-in-waiting theme in Lute Olson’s early years had positive results:
- Lofton started as senior in 1988-89 after backing up Kerr for most of three years (he started in 1986-87 as a sophomore when Kerr rehabilitated a knee injury). The Wildcats were ranked No. 1 for most of the season in 1988-89 with Lofton, Sean Elliott and Anthony Cook as seniors.
- Matt Othick started in 1989-90 as a sophomore after playing behind Lofton in 1988-89. Othick shot 44.9 percent from three-point range and posted 160 assists vs. only 74 turnovers as a senior.
- Damon Stoudamiree started as a sophomore in 1992-93 after subbing for Othick in 1989-90. After leading the UA to the Final Four in 1993-94, Stoudamire was a consensus All-American and co-Pac-10 Player of the Year as a senior in 1994-95.
- Geary started as a senior in 1995-96 after playing behind Stoudamire for three years. He became just the third player in Arizona history to pass out 200 or more assists in a single season (231) as a senior.
Nic Wise played behind Shakur as a freshman in 2006-07, which would eventually be Olson’s last season as Arizona’s head coach. After persevering through temptations to transfer and a knee injury, Wise was selected to the all-Pac-10 team as a senior in 2009-10 (Miller’s first season as Arizona’s coach).
Miller has utilized first-year starters within the program the last three years: Freshmen Lamont “MoMo” Jones (2010-11) and Josiah Turner (2011-12) and senior transfer Mark Lyons from Xavier this season.
McConnell, who earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year honors in 2010-11 at Duquesne, is practicing daily against Lyons and both players are reaping the benefits. As a sophomore last year, McConnell averaged 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.8 steals per game.
He connected on 50.9 percent (135-of-265) of his field goal attempts, including 43.2 percent (38-of-88) from three-point range. He also made 83.6 percent of his free throws (46-of-55) in earning third-team all-Atlantic 10 Conference honors and a spot on the A-10 all-defensive team. He ranked third nationally in steals per game and tied for 31st nationally in assists per game in 2011-12.
McConnell will hand the torch — or the basketball — to Jackson-Cartwright after the 2014-15 season. Another foundation layer at Point Guard U. will begin to develop. History suggests promising results are in the works.
Site publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner
|
|
Good article Jav. I think you’ve pointed out what so many long time fans are frustrated with UA’s backup PG issues this year, which normally isn’t a large barrier to success, but I see so many fans dwelling on Mayes not being that guy disproportionately to the overall record of the team.
Thanks Bob. Jordin Mayes’ foot problems probably got the best of him. He was an asset to Arizona’s Elite Eight run with how he played with confidence. This is not the same Mayes we saw that year.
To know Lyons would be coming in to essentially start, and then know McConnell will be next in line to probably start, could play on any PG’s psyche. Throw in the foot, and it’s a problem the size of which only Mayes could fully understand. Still, I can’t help but think Jordin will figure this thing out. He’s a smart, balanced, end-product kind of guy. He comes from good stock, his pops played the game at a high major level and I gotta believe they’re on the phone a lot lately, and his quiet, calm confidence will find a way onto the court again, ultimately. Can’t help but think of Terry when I think of Mayes. Their motors are for sure wired a little differently, but the general makeup and drive to success is about the same. And that’s a good thing.
Larry Drew II with UCLA is not much of a shooter but he is one of UCLA’s leaders. Jordin Mayes can be the same way if he could turn his confidence around.