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HOUSTON — Count Rawle Alkins among those excited for Allonzo Trier’s return to Arizona for his sophomore season.
“It seems like it would be good,” the Brooklyn native told SNY.tv on Monday. “Now teams won’t know what to do with us. It’s going to be very hard to double-team any one of us on the team, we’ll be a matchup nightmare.”
The 6-foot-6 Trier announced earlier Monday he will return and won’t test the NBA Draft waters. He was projected as a second-round pick in 2017 by DraftExpress.com.
The Arizona backcourt is now either loaded — or crowded — depending on how you look at it. The Wildcats lose Gabe York to graduation and Justin Simon to transfer, but return point guards Kadeem Allen and Parker Jackson-Cartwright.
They will join Alkins, a 6-4 combo guard, and 6-6 point guard Kobi Simmons in the backcourt next year for the Wildcats, who lost to Wichita State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Arizona remains in the hunt for uncommitted guard Terrance Ferguson and uncommitted wing Josh Jackson, both of whom are expected to announce soon. Ferguson is down to Maryland, Arizona, Baylor, Kansas, North Carolina and N.C. State, while Jackson is considering Arizona, Kansas and Michigan State.
Trier was a member of the 2016 Pac-12 All-Freshmen Team this past season while averaging 14.8 points per game.
“I am ecstatic about Allonzo’s decision to return to school for his sophomore year,” said head coach Sean Miller in a statement. “I believe he will become one of college basketball’s elite players next season. During our conversations, Allonzo shared his desire to be a leader on a championship team and to improve his overall game. By doing so, he puts himself in the best position possible for a very successful NBA future. I have not been around a player that works harder at the game or loves it more than he does. It’s this passion to be great that has all of us excited about our future together.”
Up front, Arizona loses Kaleb Tarczewski and Ryan Anderson, but returns Chance Comanche and Dusan Ristic while Ray Smith will join the lineup after sitting out with injury.
Arizona also adds 6-10 Finnish forward Lauri Markkanen, who was slated to play for the World Team in Saturday’s Nike Hoop Summit, but withdrew from the game.
Before he chose Arizona last month, Alkins said he was excited to play with both Trier and Simmons and possibly Jackson.
“Imagine that lineup,” Alkins said.
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