The point guard position has long been a position of a trust on the basketball court. Coaches trust them to execute the team’s offense and head up the defense. Teammates trust them to get the ball to the right spot at the right time. Success can often rely on the position, and those who play it need to lead, make smart decisions, and put their team in the best position to win. No college player has personified the position in college over the past few years than Arizona’s T.J. McConnell.
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After spending his first two seasons close to home at Duquesne, where he was Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year in 2011, and was named Third Team All-Atlantic 10 and earned a spot on the All-Defensive Team as a sophomore in 2012.
After his sophomore season, McConnell took on a bigger challenge, heading across the country to play for Arizona and Head Coach Sean Miller. The team found success with McConnell at the point guard position, and McConnell also earned individual honors, including being named as a Cousy Award (Top Point Guard) finalist in 2014 and 2015, Second Team All-Pac 12 in 2014, First Team All-Pac 12 in 2015, and All-Defensive Team both seasons.
Over his career, McConnell averaged 10.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. His assist-to-turnover ratio during the four seasons was 2.67-to-1, and his assist percentage (percentage of teammate field goals assisted by McConnell) was 32 percent, including 39 percent this season.
With an impressive college career behind him, McConnell is able to look back and see how he was able to learn and grow from his experiences at both schools.
“At Duquesne, I really learned how to adjust to the college game,” said McConnell. “Coach Everhart really helped me adjust to the college pace.”
Once he made the move to Arizona, McConnell saw even more growth. “Coach Miller was like a second dad to me, and he helped me take my game to another level,” McConnell said. “Plus, I was on my own now out in Arizona and it helped me to grow up. Add to that the competition of the Pac-12 and the Arizona schedule and I really developed as a player.”
The comparisons as players between McConnell and Coach Miller were bound to happen. Pass-first point guards from Pittsburgh who both played for their father in high school, the comparisons were being made even before McConnell transferred to play for Miller in Arizona.
McConnell doesn’t mind the comparisons, even if he didn’t get the chance to see Miller play. “From what people say, our games are extremely similar,” said McConnell. “People talk about how selfless we both are on the court, there’s nothing bad about hearing that.”
The move to Arizona not only meant that McConnell was going to be facing stronger competition, but he was also going to be surrounded by more talent. How does a point guard react when suddenly they have so many options on the floor? “Simply put, it was a point guard’s dream to have that much talent around me on the court,” McConnell said. “They deserve the credit; I just got them the ball.”
With McConnell at the point, Arizona won 67 games in two seasons; with back-to-back Pac-12 regular season titles and a conference tournament title this past season, and an impressive 31-5 record in conference games. The Wildcats also made two straight appearances in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, having their season end to Wisconsin both times.
This past season, McConnell improved his numbers in just about every category, including, averaging 10.4 points, almost 4 rebounds, and over 6 assists, along with 2.2 steals per game. His assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.1-to-1 placed him among the best in the country.
McConnell is now ready to show what he can do at the next level, with some key parts of his game being important for the transition. “I think my ability to defend and work hard will carry over to the NBA level,” said McConnell. “Also, my ability to run a team will be very important.”
As he goes through the pre-draft process, McConnell has found one important area where he knows it’s important for him to improve. “I’ve been working on my shot, becoming more consistent with it,” McConnell explained. “You need to be able to hit the jumper consistently to keep defenses honest.”
McConnell recently took part in the NBA Pre-Draft Combine in Chicago, and he came away impressed. “The experience was once-in-a-lifetime,” said McConnell. “To be able to showcase your skills in front of guys like Larry Bird, and others who have been through it before, is special. Coming out of it, I knew what I had to work on, and being among all that talent, it shows you how hard you have to work to make it.”
With teams going through their own pre-draft workouts, McConnell has already worked out for, or will soon, for San Antonio, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Utah, Phoenix, Portland, Indiana, and others.
No matter the team, McConnell is ready to show what he can bring to any organization. “Coming in, I will be a great locker room guy, understanding my role, and working relentlessly to get better,” McConnell said. “I’m a guy who’s the first one in the gym, and the last one out, every day. I’m just ecstatic for the opportunity to help a team win.”
McConnell has proven himself every step along his path so far, making everyone around him better. There’s no doubt that he will do the same at the next level, including the NBA.
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