Today’s spring hoops prospect to watch is prep guard Ty Ty Washington of Compass Prep in Phoenix, who was just named the Arizona High School Player of the Year by MaxPreps, a little more than a week after receiving a scholarship offer from the University of Kansas.
Washington, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound point guard who originally committed to Creighton last November, from a list of 10 finalists, opened his recruitment back up earlier this month shortly after Creighton coach Greg McDermott caught heat and was suspended over insensitive comments he made following a Creighton game.
Washington’s decision to reopen his recruitment — made possible by the fact that he did not sign with the Bluejays during the early signing period — immediately brought several of his nine other finalists back into the picture.
Kansas was not one of those at the time, but the Jayhawks have quickly found their way into the conversation for Washington’s services.
Known as a high-level scorer with incredible potential on the defensive end because of his size and length, Washington has recently heard from schools like Duke, KU, Pitt and several of his finalists from the first time around.
Rivals.com recruiting analyst Rob Cassidy pegs Illinois, which finished as the presumed runner-up to Creighton in November, as the favorite in Round 2, but he also lists Kentucky (new to the picture) and local program, Arizona State, as the top contenders for Washington’s services this time around.
Cassidy points to Oklahoma State as a “sleeper pick” in the Washington sweepstakes and dubs Mike Boynton’s program as “worth keeping an eye on in the weeks ahead.”
Both Illinois and Arizona State hold the advantage of having had Washington on campus in the past. According to Cassidy, Washington, who’s real name is Tyrone Jr., took an unguided, self-funded visit to the Illini’s campus in late October. And Arizona State’s campus is just a short drive from where he lives and has played his high school ball.
Washington, a 4-star prospect, is currently ranked No. 32 overall in the Class of 2021 by Rivals.com. That’s up 54 spots from his previous ranking in the Rivals data base.
He is one of just nine prospects in the 2021 Top 40 who is undecided, and that number is expected to go down by one this morning, when 5-star Omaha, Neb., prospect Hunter Sallis announces his college decision. Most experts expect Sallis to pick Gonzaga from a final eight that includes Kansas.
There is no known timeline for Washington to make his decision, but the spring signing period is right around the corner.
Typically just over a month long, this year’s regular signing period for Division I has been extended from April 14 through Aug. 1. The extension was granted because of the NCAA’s recent decision to suspend in-person recruiting through at least May 31.
