LAS VEGAS – With his season finished in the Phillippines and an open day this week en route to Los Angeles, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson figured a stopover was in order.
So the former Wildcat standout forward walked into the loading zone at T-Mobile Arena about a half-hour before Arizona faced USC.
“I was going to LA anyway to do a video and I was on a zoom call. I was like, `You know what? When is the next game?’ “ Hollis-Jefferson said. The word was that `the tournament starts on the 14th’ so I was like, Hey, I gotta be on LA on Friday. Why not?”
Hollis-Jefferson returned to the city where he he helped the Wildcats win the 2015 Pac-12 Tournament across the street at the MGM Grand Garden. A lot has changed since then, with the tournament moving to T-Mobile in 2017 and UA changing coaches in 2021, among other things, but Hollis-Jefferson said he’s stayed in touch with UA conditioning coach Chris Rounds and other staff.
While Hollis-Jefferson said he hasn’t gotten to know UA coach Tommy Lloyd, the two had an exchange that could lead to a relationship down the road.
“I texted him when he first came on and he told me I’m always welcome to come back,” Hollis-Jefferson said. “The guys love him. He seems genuine.”
But at least for now, Hollis-Jefferson’s time is limited. After becoming the 23rd overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Hollis-Jefferson played six NBA seasons and has since played in Turkey, Puerto Rico and this season in the Phillippines. Hollis-Jefferson said he planned to return to Puerto Rico to play this summer, too, then possibly hook on for an NBA training camp into next season.
Originally from Chester, Pa., Hollis-Jefferson said he’s now based mostly in Boston for family reasons.
