Jeff Borzello of ESPN.com has taken a look at the top breakout players in the NCAA this season and one of Kentucky’s upperclassmen has caught his eye.
He listed the top 4 breakout veterans and Kentucky’s PJ Washington made the list.
See below what he had to say.
Kentucky needed a go-to guy. Coach John Calipari had finally figured out his point guard situation, he had a couple of freshman scorers on the wings in Keldon Johnson and Tyler Herro, and depth in the post. But the Wildcats needed someone to step up and be a star.
Washington did just that. Heading into the week, Washington was averaging 21.0 points and 7.9 rebounds in his past 10 games and is shooting 51.2 percent from 3-point range in SEC play. The former five-star recruit averaged 10.8 points and 5.7 rebounds in 2017-18 but made only five 3-pointers all season. After testing the NBA draft waters, Washington came back for his sophomore season ready to go.
“His body fat is down tremendously. He’s changed his body a whole lot. And he’s put the reps in on his shot and gotten serious about it,” said one SEC coach who was familiar with Washington in high school. “I think that freshmen that go do those [NBA] workouts, get the feedback and told, ‘You’re not good enough,’ that humbles them in a way college coaches can’t do when they get them on campus. They’re going to produce but their flaws aren’t going to be as magnified. [So Washington said,] ‘I’ll be back in nine months.'”
Washington’s ability to be a consistent weapon on offense has taken Kentucky to a new level in SEC play, and has helped make the Wildcats a national championship contender. One SEC coach said his improved versatility has been the most impressive asset this season, both in terms of improving his 3-point shooting and guarding multiple frontcourt positions.
“I did not see this in him,” an opposing coach said. “I knew he was a tough kid, but he’s grown up and he’s changed.”
Everyone knows Washington is the go to guy for John Calipari right now and it will be interesting to see how Tennessee tries to stop him this Saturday in Knoxville.
It didn’t go so well last time they tried to stop him.
