Tommy Lloyd’s Arizona Wildcats are targeting some big names in the transfer portal, including Nikolas Khamenia and Bryson Tiller.
Khamenia averaged 5.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1 assist per game in his freshman season for the Duke Blue Devils before entering the transfer portal. Arizona is a prime landing spot as it pursued Khamenia out of high school, per 247 Sports, but he chose Duke.
Tiller, meanwhile, averaged 7.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1.3 blocks last season for the Kansas Jayhawks. He has the potential to provide the balance that the Wildcats will need next season. Tiller has narrowed his list to four teams, including Arizona. He will pick between Arizona, Miami, Michigan, and Missouri.
The Wildcats are keeping an eye on several other players as well, including Jackson Shelstad, Stefan Vaaks and Paulius Murauskas.
The Wildcats made a trip to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament in Lloyd’s fifth season as a head coach. They won the Big 12 Tournament, defeating the Houston Cougars 79-74 in the final. Arizona defeated LIU, Utah State, Arkansas, and Purdue en route to the Final Four this year.
They met the Michigan Wolverines in the Final Four and lost 91-73. After the season was over, Lloyd was rumored to leave the Wildcats, but he decided to stay and rebuild his team for the next season.
Like every other team, the Wildcats have lost some key players from last season’s roster. Freshman forward Sidi Gueye has entered the transfer portal, whereas forward Koa Peat will likely be departing for the NBA draft, and Tobe Awaka has exhausted his eligibility.
Arizona AD on Tommy Lloyd’s Future
After the season, Tommy Lloyd was rumored to be closing in on the head coach job for the North Carolina Tar Heels, who had fired Hubert Davis.
However, Arizona athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois said the program would like to see him retire as a Wildcat.
“Tommy has done a phenomenal job. He’s one of the best coaches in America. We have been engaged with his representatives about a new contract since before the start of the NCAA Tournament. Those discussions will continue, and it is our goal that he retires as a Wildcat.”
Recently, Lloyd signed a five-year contract extension that will run through the 2030-31 season. He will average $7.5 million during his 5-year contract extension.
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