Kentucky’s PJ Washington has improved so much from last season that he has become a blueprint for future elite college players to come back to school to improve their game instead of being stuck on a NBA bench or a year or 2 in the G League.
SBNation.com’s Ricky O’Donnell takes a look at Washington’s sophomore season and how it could change the landscape of hopeful one and done’s and how coming back for a second year might not be that bad of an idea.
Staying in school has acted as a launching pad for Washington’s career. He’s used his sophomore season to sharpen his skill level, improve physically, and boost his draft stock.
The next time a player choses to come back to school, he’ll be hoping to be the next P.J. Washington.
Washington is in noticeably better cardiovascular shape this year. He’s stronger, too. Calipari has credited improvements to his body for his sophomore leap this season. It’s made him tougher to handle on the inside for opponents and given him more juice to show off his newly improved skill set.
Washington’s numbers are up across the board in every major category as a sophomore.
While shooting isn’t his only improvement, it’s certainly his most dramatic. A year ago, Washington finished his freshman year 5-of-21 from three-point range. He’s 30-for-67 as a sophomore as the calendar turns to March.
A newfound jump shot has unlocked the rest of his game.
“He’s big and strong enough to physically dominate the most physical power forwards in the country and yet he’s quick enough and skilled enough to be able to step out on the floor and do things like a big guard.”
These are the worlds of Auburn coach Bruce Pearl after he watched Washington drop 24 points and six rebounds on 9-of-13 shooting and 5-of-8 from three-point range last week. It touched on an idea that has gained traction among NBA draftniks — maybe Washington ultimately projects as an oversized wing in the NBA.
Washington’s improved shooting ability is the basis for this — he’s been able to rise and fire confidently and quickly as a catch-and-shoot threat all season. He can also put pressure on the defense when he’s run off the line, either as a passer or as someone who can revert back into big man mode to put a small defender on his back and score over him:
Staying in school has not been for everyone, but PJ Washington sure has made the most of his second year in Lexington.
