Time to Recognize Arizona Basketball’s Unsung Hero Parker Jackson-Cartwright
Senior Parker Jackson-Cartwright has proven he is essential to the Arizona Basketball team, without his efficiency, the Cats might not be winning games.
The Arizona Basketball team began the year ranked in the top five due to the experience of the returning starters and incoming freshmen, but one key to their current climb back up the polls is the steady play of senior point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright.
PJC, as he is known to fans, is clearly undersized and most of the talking heads don’t know anything about him except that he’s not ESPN favorite Tre Jones who hasn’t yet played a minute for Duke. Instead, Parker Jackson-Cartwright waited his turn and in the last few years, took the reins from another under-the-radar point guard, TJ McConnell. Look where TJ is now.
"I coach him harder than I coach anybody else, and I’m just so proud of him coming out of left field, being in the NBA, staying in the NBA and now playing in the NBA." https://t.co/5dJZoia5mJ
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) January 21, 2018
What did TJ McConnell do that is rare these days? He stayed in college four years. It is accepted now that the best basketball talent goes to the NCAA for one year, maybe two, and then jet off for what the athletes hope to be a stellar NBA career and the big bucks. Many great athletes from Arizona and other basketball powerhouses have professional careers that just haven’t panned out as they hoped. Maybe they should have stayed through their junior or senior years.
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It can be said Parker Jackson-Cartwright doesn’t have the talent or size needed for the NBA. Time will tell if that is true. Meanwhile, he may be the best medicine for Arizona this year. The Wildcats had perhaps too much hype in the pre-season with Allonzo Trier, Dusan Ristic, and Rawle Alkins returning along with freshman phenom Deandre Ayton coming to the desert from the Bahamas. Someone has to run the show, and that is Parker Jackson-Cartwright.
PJC is the only one of Arizona’s starters to not be on a watch list at the beginning of the year. He does not have the fiery on-court personality of his predecessor McConnell. However, when Cartwright hits a three-pointer, his teammates and fans in McKale Arena light up.
On Monday Coach Sean Miller noted PJC now has dished 100 assists and only committed 30 turnovers. So his assist to turnover ratio is stellar. His defense is pesky, like a fly that won’t leave you alone during a picnic. Reflecting on the win against Stanford Saturday, PJC’s steal and drive to the basket with 1:22 left was a pivotal four-point turnaround. Arizona took the lead 67-66 at that point and the Wildcats won by two. You can see his two steals at the 1:35 and 2:05 marks in this video (and more):
It won't show up in the box score, but Parker Jackson-Cartwright made two HUGE intangible plays down the stretch. Also had ZERO turnovers in the game.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 20, 2018
Fans in Tucson have been frustrated with ESPN’s Jeff Goodman’s regular criticism of the Wildcats’ point guard. Yesterday a fan reminded Goodman that things are going okay with PJC running the floor.
Next: Arizona Stadium is in for a Makeover
It won’t be long until Parker Jackson-Cartwright plays his last game at McKale. Let’s enjoy these last few months of PJC’s quiet but effective FOUR-YEAR career at Arizona. #BearDown PJC!