NBA Future Watch: TyTy Washington Basketball Cards, Houston Rockets – TyTy Washington followed in the footsteps of legendary University of Kentucky point guards, including Rajon Rondo, John Wall and De’Aaron Fox. He came out the other end a first-round draft pick. Washington now joins another squad teeming with young talent, Houston. This time his all-around game is going to need to bring focus and clarity to a raw-but-gifted roster.
Growing up in the Phoenix area, Washington built a name for himself on the local hoops scene, culminating in totals of 24 PPG, 6 RPG and 7 APG in his senior season at AZ Compass Prep School. Having racked up several accolades in his prep years, the All-Tournament Team at the GEICO Nationals, MaxPreps Arizona Player of the Year, 3-point shooting champion at the 2021 Iverson Roundball Classic, Jordan Brand Classic participant, Washington was designated as a five-star prospect. Washington chose jersey #3 in honor of Allen Iverson’s point guard skills and the greatly admired star for his hometown Suns, Devin Booker. He ended up following in Booker’s footsteps at Kentucky.
Over the last decade, Lexington has hosted more elite prospects than any other city, so standing out is not emphasized and the numbers often reflect it. As such, Washington can only be assessed fairly on his Per 40 Minutes: 17.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 5.3 APG. The presence of talented smaller PG Sahvir Wheeler forced Washington to log decent minutes at SG and he broadened his off-ball skills, tallying .350 3% and .750 FT%. Washington also led the SEC with 2.35 AST/TO.
Washington had several true standout moments in a Wildcat jersey – with a program-record 17 assists against Georgia and 28 points, five assists and three steals in a huge win over Tennessee shining the brightest. He declared for the 2022 NBA Draft, but due to the difficulty standing out at Kentucky, he mirrored Booker’s fate, sliding to the 29th pick and the Rockets in a trade with Memphis.
Houston is a franchise with a common contradiction around the NBA – one of the worst records anywhere, but enough pure talent to easily rank in the top half of the league. It’s the extraction and refinement of that talent that can transform this squad into a championship contender. Washington will be vital in that regard. With excellent court vision and instincts, creative scoring abilities and a knack for putting the team first that others in Houston would do well to emulate, Washington will also likely add a step-back jumper that will make his game even more lethal. Helping to lead Houston’s return to prominence will carve out significant prominence for Washington himself in the years ahead.
NBA Future Watch: TyTy Washington Basketball Cards, Houston Rockets – College Stats
Statistical image generated on Sports Reference 10/03/2022.
NBA Future Watch: TyTy Washington Basketball Cards, Houston Rockets – More Resources
- 2021-22 Pro Set Power Basketball
- Secondary Market Pricing
- Beckett Card Catalog
- NBA.com Player Profile
- TyTy Washington on Twitter
- TyTy Washington on Instagram
NBA Future Watch: TyTy Washington Basketball Cards, Houston Rockets – Image Gallery
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