Four things to know about Tommy Lloyd, the Arizona Wildcats’ new basketball
2. He has heavy international recruiting ties.
Gonzaga forward Rui Hachimura (21) shoots over Arizona forward Ryan Luther (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Lloyd’s efforts on the recruiting trail helped the Zags land top-tier international prospects from all over the world, which bodes well for Arizona’s global roster. Lloyd was responsible for recruiting All-American and first-round draft pick Rui Hachimura (Japan), first-round pick Domantas Sabonis (Lithuania) and Canadians Kelly Olynyk and Kevin Pangos. Lloyd also attracted French stars Ronny Turiaf in 2001 and Killian Tillie in ’16.
Lloyd will ensure Arizona continues to recruit abroad, something it began doing a year ago.
As of now now, the Wildcats have six scholarship players with international roots: Guard Kerr Kriisa (Estonia), forward Azuolas Tubelis (Lithuania), wing Bennedict Mathurin (Canada), center Christian Koloko (Cameroon), wing Tibet Gorener (Turkey) and forward Tautvilas Tubelis (Lituania).
Lloyd also recruits domestically. He was responsible for Gonzaga landing Brandon Clarke, Zach Collins, Kyle Wiltjer, Austin Daye, Adam Morrison and Jeremy Pargo.
3. His son, Liam, plays at GCU
Gonzaga’s Jacob Larsen, left, is interviewed by 15-year-old Liam Lloyd, son of assistant coach Tommy Lloyd, in the locker room before a practice session for the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 2, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Lloyd accepting the Arizona job means he’ll be closer to his son Liam. How close? Lloyd will just need to travel two hours by car up Interstate 10 rather than a plane ticket to visit his son, Liam Lloyd, who is a freshman basketball player for the Grand Canyon University Antelopes. Liam Lloyd scored over 1,000 points and won two state championships at Gonzaga Prep in Spokane, Wash. In his first season at GCU, Lloyd played in 13 games, and scored a season-high 15 points in a win over Bethesda, and finished with a 2.5 points-per-game average.
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