Accolades Pour In For Arizona Basketball’s Allonzo Trier
Allonzo Trier is back for his Junior season with something to prove. So far the College Basketball world is taking notice.
After his first season, there was speculation as to whether Allonzo Trier would return to Arizona. He’d put up great numbers as a Freshman, but a broken hand suffered in a quadruple-OT loss at USC cost him a month, and a potential spot in the NBA Draft.
Months later, Trier had announced his intent to return for his Sophomore year, much to the delight of Wildcats fans.
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Anticipating a huge season, that delight quickly turned to confusion and disbelief. The season came, and Trier sat out the team’s first game of the season. And then the second. And then the third. His pregame attire became the focus of much speculation. Would he be in sweats again? Could this be the week he’s wearing a jersey?
In the end, Trier missed 19 games due to suspension. He mistakenly took a “performance enhancing drug” and couldn’t return to the court until it had left his system.
Upon his return to the court, the Wildcats once again had a successful season and deep Pac-12 Tourney run. However, Arizona’s loss to Xavier in the Sweet 16 derailed another Final Four hopeful season.
Following the loss to the Musketeers, Trier said he would be returning for his Junior year. The decision was so certain, he didn’t even bother with the NBA combine. He had something to prove.
With the regular season tip-off just days away, it isn’t just Wildcats fans eager to see what Trier can do with a full season. The entire college basketball world is expecting big things from him this year.
September 26 – Trier named to NBC Sports’ College Basketball Preseason All-America first team.
October 10 – Sports Illustrated’s list of Top 10 Player of the Year candidates includes Trier.
October 17 – Trier included on the watch list for the Jerry West Award. The award is given to College Basketball’s best shooting guard.
Congrats to Allonzo Trier for being named to the Jerry West Award Preseason Watch List. #APlayersProgram pic.twitter.com/dXCBbpp0SP
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) October 17, 2017
October 23 – Trier named to ESPN’s College Basketball Preseason All-America first team.
November 6 – The US Basketball Writers Association puts Trier on the watch list for the Oscar Robertson Award, given to college basketball’s best player.
#Pac12Hoops on @USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy preseason watch list for national player of the year! Full list: https://t.co/JxES2Xvudl pic.twitter.com/N4Jjs74eKx
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) November 6, 2017
November 6 – ESPN ranks Trier as the 4th best player in college basketball.
NCAAM @espn Top 50 Arizona:
— ZonaZealotsFS (@ZonaZealots) November 6, 2017
Allonzo Trier 4
DeAndre Ayton 12
Glaring miss: Rawle Alkins (y’all miss the combine?) https://t.co/teRz40Jo9x
November 6 – Trier voted onto the AP’s preseason All-America team, arguably the most prestigious preseason accolade in college basketball.
Arizona junior Allonzo Trier averaged 17.2 points and 5.3 boards last season. pic.twitter.com/QPJFWVOALf
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) November 6, 2017
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Sean Miller is fond of saying that individual success follows team success. If Allonzo Trier can live up to the preseason hype, it’s a safe bet that the team will do great things as well. Bear Down, Arizona!