BIG pickup
After plenty of taketh the past few weeks, the NCAA transfer portal has finally giveth.
Arizona has picked up a commitment from ex-Oakland wing Trey Townsend, who picked the Wildcats on Wednesday over Ohio State, Michigan State and Louisville.
NEWS: Oakland transfer Trey Townsend, the Horizon League player of the year, has committed to Arizona, he told ESPN.
Townsend was a breakout NCAA tournament star, helping No. 14 seed Oakland upset Kentucky, and scoring 30 points vs N.C. State.
STORY: https://t.co/m2Yk2o4Jut pic.twitter.com/Dkq5sjpGQa
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 24, 2024
The 6-foot-6 Townsend spent four years at Oakland, averaging 14.1 points and 6.9 rebounds while scoring 1,813 points. He started 129 games, including all 36 in 2023-24 when he led the Golden Grizzlies in scoring (17.3), rebounds (8.1) and assists (3.1) en route to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Townsend, who had put his name into the 2024 NBA Draft when entering the portal had 17 points in Oakland’s first-round upset of Kentucky, following that up with 30 in the overtime loss to surprise Final Four qualifier NC State.
With all five starters gone from this past season’s Sweet 16 team, Townsend could start at either the 3 or 4. He could pair with big man Motiejus Krivas in the frontcourt or be part of a backcourt that will include Jaden Bradley and at least one of Arizona’s incoming freshmen.
Townsend is the first portal pickup of the offseason for Arizona, which had seen six players (five on scholarship) look to play elsewhere. Three others with eligibility have declared for the NBA Draft including guards Caleb Love and KJ Lewis, both of whom can still return to the Wildcats.