Arizona adds 2 transfer guards from the portal

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Arizona basketball targeted the replacement for Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley after the Final Four. The Wildcats eventually lost out on landing Jackson Shelstad of Oregon. But Tommy Lloyd and company made up for it in a huge way Monday: Landing two guards via the College Basketball Transfer portal.

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ESPN college basketball insider Jeff Borzello revealed who is heading to Tucson. Including one who turns down an opportunity to play for a past NBA head coach.

“North Carolina transfer Derek Dixon has committed to Arizona, sources told ESPN. Second commitment of the day for Lloyd and the Wildcats, after JJ Mandaquit picked them a couple hours ago,” Borzello posted on the social media website X, formerly Twitter.

Dixon started in 16 games as a UNC freshman. He delivered 6.5 points per game for Hubert Davis’ final Tar Heels team. North Carolina since has pivoted to former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.

Mandaquit comes over via a former conference rival of Arizona in Washington. He also leaves his post following his freshman campaign. The native of Hilo, Hawaii, however, averaged only 5.2 points per game with 3.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds.

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Dixon, meanwhile, flashed his potential while playing opposite of fellow prized freshman Caleb Wilson. The 6-foot-5 guard produced seven games of surpassing the double-digit mark. He even dropped 17 points on Duke during the Tar Heels’ 76-61 loss on March 7.

Dixon scored 11 points against VCU during March Madness in what became his final UNC game ever. Now he and Mandaquit rise as pivotal fill-ins for one of Arizona’s biggest strengths of this past season.

Burries and Bradley handled the scoring and sharpshooting duties out of the backcourt. Lloyd and AZ restrengthen the spot after the Michigan loss with two young transfers.

Related: Why UConn’s Geno Auriemma didn’t…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/arizona-adds-2-transfer-guards-230608351.html

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Publish date : 2026-04-13 23:06:00

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