Former coach always knew that TyTy Washington was a special player

Tylon Wilson is the women’s basketball coach at American Indian College in Phoenix but knows plenty about Kentucky freshman guard TyTy Washington. He coached Washington’s father, Tee, in high school when Wilson said he was the best high school point guard in Arizona. He also put TyTy on his varsity team when he was in the sixth grade and he hit a game-winning shot.

“So TyTy really was born to do this,” said Wilson. “You could always see the potential in TyTy. My varsity summer league team was playing and I talked to his dad about putting him on the varsity team to see how he would do and give him some confidence. We put him on the team and he ended up starting as a sixth-grader. He was that good.

“He has always been ultra-confident, always smooth, always under control on and off the court. His basketball IQ was always off the chart.”

TyTy Washington had his best game at UK against Ohio when he finished with 20 points on 8-for-15 shooting, 12 rebounds, five assists, one block, and one steal in 37 minutes. He was only 1-for-6 from 3-point range and did have four turnovers but coach John Calipari felt he finally looked comfortable.

“Nothing really was uncomfortable; I was just fresh out of high school into a college game. The transition of just physicality, speed, stuff like that was a big adjustment for me.” Washington admitted after the Ohio win.

Wilson said Washington’s mother was an even better high school player than his father. She was high school player of the year in Tempe, Ariz., and he called her a “pure player” in all facets of play.

“He has his dad’s grit and grind and his mother’s IQ. If you were able to create a player in the lab, it would be TyTy,” Wilson said about the UK freshman. “He has always been quiet on the court and strictly business. Off the court, I have never really seen that playful side I hear is there. He is just that leader who leads by example. You will never see him yelling or out of control.”

Wilson still sees Washington’s parents and talks to his dad two or three times per week. He says they worked hard to raise TyTy the right way.

“He has always been a great student. He always had the grades to go to college wherever he wanted,” Wilson said. “Obviously, basketball was going to take him where he wanted but his grades always came first. He was a student first, basketball player second.”

Wilson said Washington became a “high flyer” about his junior year at Arizona Compass Prep when he started playing consistently above the rim.

“His dad is maybe 5-10. He was a great athlete and amazing passer when I had him kind of like TyTy is now,” Wilson said. “All of TyTy’s siblings look up to him with so much admiration but he also looks up to them the same way. They are such a tight-knit family and love each other so much.

“I think his siblings probably cheer louder for him than anybody at Kentucky ever could. Kentucky is so lucky to have him.”

Washington has capitalized on numerous name, image and likeness deals but he’s also giving back. He started a non-profit organization that will help single mothers, student-athletes with a 4.0 or higher GPA, and nominated teachers at one high school in Phoenix and Kentucky. He also hosted a backpack giveaway in Tempe in August.

“He is such a good kid. In Phoenix, we love him and I know Kentucky is already loving him, too,” Wilson said. “I have watched and followed him since sixth grade and he is just always so poised and under control.

“Some players, if things are going bad, they will get upset or rattled. Not him. He never expects to lose or to be under duress. He’s a special kid and special player. He’s just going to find ways to win games and help make everyone on his team better. He’s that teammate everyone wants.”

Going into tonight’s game with Central Michigan, Washington is averaging a team-high 14.8 points per game along with 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 46.2 percent overall, 35 percent from 3 and 85 percent at the foul line.