SEC Basketball 2022 NBA Draft Preview: Kentucky PG TyTy Washington

Looking at the 2022 NBA Draft, Kentucky guard TyTy Washington could be the first true point guard to come off the board in June, as well as one of SEC Basketball‘s first players selected.

Other combo guards such as Jaden Ivey and Shaedon Sharpe headline this years class of backcourt players. Washington looks to find a landing spot among all of that talent.

Washington showed a high basketball IQ and the talent to be a floor general at the next level but an ankle injury last year caused him to have a lackluster finish to the season.

SEC Basketball 2022 NBA Draft Preview: Kentucky PG TyTy Washington

Before injuring his ankle last year, Washington showed the craftiness that made him a top recruit. But for most of the year, TyTy was forced to play off the ball and not as the true point guard for the Kentucky Wildcats.  When he was allowed to run the show, Washington flourished. He showed great pacing and feel for the game.

Overall the fit at Kentucky wasn’t there for him last year. Coach Calipari decided to start Sahvir Wheeler at the one and when TyTy suffered his ankle injury, he wasn’t the same player. Lack of fit and playing through an injury caused him to disappear in big games but the ability looks to be there in the right system.

Strengths

Washington has a great feel for the game. He is a natural point guard who makes up for lack of elite athleticism with smart plays and a high basketball IQ. In a secondary playmaker role he still averaged almost 4 assists per game. When asked to be the primary point guard for a game against the Georgia Bulldogs, Washington had 17 points and 17 assists in a win. Pair his high usage rate (22.7%) with his low turnover rate (1.6 turnovers per game) and you have a prototypical point guard to lead your offense.

In addition to his smart play, Washington also showed the ability to shoot from deep. He shot 45.1% from the field and 35% from three. He uses that shooting touch to draw defenders closer, giving him the ability to become a playmaker. And when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands he becomes an excellent catch and shoot threat working off of screens or just running around the court.

NBA Projection

Washington will project as a pure point guard at the next level and it’s still to be determined whether he has the size to play off the ball like he did in college. His ability to shoot off the dribble and keep defenders honest will contribute heavily to his potential in the NBA. That shooting gravity will make up for anything he lacks athletically and would allow him to do a lot of what he did in college.

Depending on where he is drafted he could immediately become a valuable piece to a second unit or a starting point guard on a young team.

Possible Team Fits

Washington has the ability to fit with any team in the NBA. Being a pure point guard and having the skills to play off the ball really well is rare. His up and down freshman year might deter teams from choosing him in the lottery but the versatility is there.

More tape as the main point guard would’ve helped but he showed that he could play at the two guard despite being undersized.

How good he can really be will depend on if he ends up in a better system than he was in at Kentucky.

Draft Position

As of right now, Washington is projected to be a late lottery to mid first round selection. He could go anywhere from the Pelicans at 8, or Knicks at 11, to Denver all the way down at 21.

Washington would be considered a steal if he is available passed pick 20.