TyTy Washington has LSU coach Will Wade he will be a first-round NBA draft pick. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Leg cramps in the second half kept TyTy Washington from fully showing what he could do in UK’s loss at LSU. However, LSU coach Will Wade made it clear before the game how impressed he was with the Kentucky freshman.
“Washington’s gonna be a lottery pick and can score at all three levels. Makes 3’s, gets to the rim. Really, really good in the mid-range,” Wade said.” I think about half the shots are in the mid-range. Like I said, he’s gonna be a lottery pick.”
Washington came back in the next game and played like a lottery pick in a win over Georgia when he had 17 points and a school-record 17 assists (he broke the mark previously held by John Wall). He also had five rebounds and two steals.
Wall played on John Calipari’s first team at Kentucky in the 2009-10 season and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.
“It’s John Wall. I watched a bunch of highlights of him at Kentucky and watched him in the NBA a lot,” Washington said after the Georgia win. “To break records is exciting. Kentucky has had a lot of other great point guards.
“I hope nobody breaks it (his record), but the next person who does, congrats to them.”
I asked Washington if he had ever had 17 assists in a game before.
“I’ve had 17 assists on @NBA2K (a video game) before, but that’s about it,” Washington laughed and said.
Earlier this season Washington had a double-double with points and rebounds. He’s the first UK player with a double-double with points and assists along with points and rebounds since Ashton Hagans in the 2018-19 season.
Kentucky coach John Calipari says Washington has the same flexibility/versatility that former UK guards Jamal Murray, Brandon Knight, and Tyrese Maxey had. All three could play point guard but also score.
“He can be away from the ball and we can still do things with him so he can make basketball plays,” Calipari said.
