During his three-year career at Arizona, Allonzo Trier didnβt just play with confidence.
He also left some behind with the Wildcats β especially after he made the New York Knicksβ opening-night roster last week.
That much was clear when Brandon Randolph was asked recently about what it was like to play with No. 1 NBA draft pick Deandre Ayton β and answered by talking about Trier.
βEven though he didnβt get drafted, Allonzo Trier is definitely showing he belongs in the NBA,β Randolph said. βSeeing that shows I belong at the next level and shows that anything is possible. Heβs a great player, and I played against him (in practice) all year.β
Before getting to another level, Randolph has some work to do at Arizona. That could help him and the Wildcats immensely.
Arizona lost all five starters from last season. This yearβs roster includes veteran transfers Chase Jeter, Ryan Luther and Justin Coleman and also a core of sophomores who were highly regarded β if not overly used β last season.
βBrandon has a lot of talent and heβs worked hard over the summer like all these guys have,β UA coach Sean Miller said. βOne of the things we have going for us is thereβs a big carrot for each of our players. They have an opportunity to have a bigger role or a starting role and when you have that sitting there, they go for it.β
The closest thing Randolph had to that wide-open opportunity arrived twice during his freshman season.
Brandon Randolph (5) finishes an uncontested slam on a fast break during an exhibition at McKale Center last year.
Randolph took advantage of extra shots and minutes in UAβs blowout win over Combinado Valencia during UAβs two-game exhibition swing through Spain in August 2017: He had a game-high 21 points plus three assists and two steals while making 8 of 13 shots, and showed an unmistakable aggressiveness and confidence with the ball.
Rawle Alkinsβ foot injury, suffered Sept. 26 of last year, opened up a flood of minutes on the wing. Randolph took advantage over a five-game stretch in nonconference play.
He was a lone bright spot off the bench in UAβs Battle 4 Atlantis seventh-place game loss to Purdue, scoring 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting, and started the next four games until Alkins returned to the starting lineup Dec. 16 at New Mexico.
Over those five games, Randolph averaged 12.2 points while shooting 53.8 percent.
βI definitely remember that stretch and it shows that whenever coach needed me I was there to produce,β Randolph said. βNot just me but other guys were able to produce whenever they needed to. I just think it shows that I can definitely play at this level and belong here.β
Randolph wasnβt asked to produce that much once Alkins returned. Alkins averaged 31.4 minutes a game, and Trier took up 34 per game while eventually playing both guard spots.
Randolph averaged just 11.6 minutes. He played just 16 total minutes over one four-game stretch in February, and finished the season by scoring three points in nine minutes during an NCAA Tournament loss to Buffalo.
Though as his minutes shrunk, Randolph said he grew.
βI donβt think my stats reflected how good I am, but at the same time I was able to learn a lot from last yearβs team, playing against those players like Allonzo, Rawle and even the returners like Dylan (Smith) and Emmanuel (Akot),β Randolph said. βEverybody was a good player. I just basically learned that the biggest thing for me was to get my body right.β
Thatβs where Trier, and his Iβm-getting-to-the-basket-no-matter-what attitude came in again. Randolph watched Trierβs every move, whether it was a drive, a 3-point attempt or an and-one.
βI just basically learned to take in the body contact and how to absorb it, and basically put pressure on me,β Randolph said. ββZo basically taught me a couple of tactics on how to get my shot off, stuff like that, how to become a better scorer.β
Randolph has worked on attacking the basket and playing defense, while also adding to pounds to his 6-foot-6-inch frame. He now weighs 180 pounds.
Randolph has just over a week to begin showing it all off: Arizona will play its first exhibition game Oct. 30 against Western New Mexico, and will open the regular season on Nov. 7 against Houston Baptist.
Already, in private at least, Randolph has felt a change.
βThis year Iβm definitely bringing it to practice,β Randolph said. βLast year, I was a little more quiet and developing. This year I just want everybody on my team to compete so Iβm always talking and Iβm always trying to hype people up.
βIβm able to spill out information and teach the younger guys.β
So maybe, like Trier did, Randolph can leave his mark on younger Wildcats, too.
