Fringe five-star guard TyTy Washington is built for Kentucky: "He's a dog, a bonafide dog."

(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Immediately following TyTy Washington’s decommitment from Creighton back on March 11, Kentucky assistant coach Jai Lucas picked up the phone and made it clear that if the four-star senior guard was hitting reset in his recruitment, the Wildcats wanted to throw their hat in the ring. The program’s young, up-and-coming recruiter reached out to both parents and even extended family – Washington’s uncle Greg Moody was also contacted by Lucas – in hopes of getting the ball rolling.

And when Kentucky comes calling, “you’re definitely going to listen,” AZ Compass Prep head coach Ed Gipson told KSR on Wednesday.

The UK coaching staff maintained consistent contact in recent weeks and ultimately scheduled a Zoom call with Washington and his family early this week. With the likes of John Calipari, along with his complete collection of assistants in Lucas, Joel Justus and Bruiser Flint, all in virtual attendance, the Wildcats extended an official scholarship offer to put pen to paper on the serious verbal interest.

“It was a great Zoom, Coach Cal was straight forward. I think TyTy expressed what he was looking for, and I think Coach Cal, Coach Lucas, Coach Flint, the entire staff, it was straight forward,” Gipson said. “They told him what it was and that’s all you can ask for, honesty. I felt like it went well, and I felt TyTy and the family felt like it went well, too.”

The meeting didn’t consist of endless praise, false promises and a scholarship wrapped up like a present, complete with ribbon and a bow. Instead, Calipari and his staff showed the dynamic scoring guard how he’d likely be used at Kentucky and the challenges that come with being a Wildcat. Done correctly, and all of his wildest basketball dreams are attainable in Lexington.

“Just from being on the Zoom, they showed him clips of previous guys that fit his style of play, how TyTy plays. Showed him how he can be successful,” Gipson told KSR. “It was pretty cut-and-dry, straightforward. “Hey man, this is what we do. You only come here if you want to do this.” that’s all it was. It was a nice, long Zoom, he was super transparent. It was super informational, I’ll tell you that.”

The film session not only included Washington’s personal game tape, but also that of former UK standouts such as Tyrese Maxey, Immanuel Quickley and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, just to name a few.

“You can go down the list of guards he showed, it was so many,” the four-star guard’s coach said. “He was showing the actions, how the spacing is, the opportunity to break down and create for others, how the dribble drive works, stuff like that. It was pretty cool.”

So what kind of player would Kentucky be adding with a commitment from Washington, who is listed as the No. 30 overall prospect and No. 3 point guard in the 247Sports Composite rankings? To put it bluntly, he’d provide something last year’s roster was desperately missing.

“His parents raised him the right way, he’s built tough. Like Ford tough, he’s built that way,” Gipson told KSR. “He’s going to take what he wants, he’s not going to back down from anybody. He’s a dog, a bonafide dog.”

But not a ‘dog’ in the traditional put-the-team-on-your-back-and-get-buckets sense. He can do that, but it’s not imperative. Washington cares more about putting his teammates in position to make plays and play winning basketball. He wants to empower others, not take control of the spotlight.

“The cool part about TyTy is, sometimes you see guys that are dogs and it’s all about them getting buckets or “I’m just going to will our team to a win with me scoring.” That’s the difference with TyTy,” Gipson added. “He’s a dog because he’s going to empower the guys around him to make them feel like as much of a dog as he is, put them in positions to make shots and believe in them too.

“Even with our guys, yes he’s going to score points and make great highlights, but at the same time, he’s going to put the ball in the right person’s hands at the end of the game where they don’t have anything else to do but shoot it and make it go in. That’s the type of dog he is, that’s his IQ.”

That leadership bleeds outside the lines, as well.

“Off the floor, he’s a student of the game. He’s the kind of guy who walks in a room and, for some strange reason, he gets people to follow him,” Washington’s coach said. “I always tell him, “Where are you leading him, Ty? Where are you leading them if everyone is following you?” This year he showed that he understands that. He inspired the rest of our guys.”

Washington’s on- and off-court presence is felt around the AZ Compass Prep program daily, and his head coach has zero doubt in his mind those intangibles would translate to a place like Kentucky. He has a killer, win-first mentality, a quality the UK program hopes to pick back up next season.

“It’d be no problem for him. The kid, he’s handled (pressure) his whole life. The shooting, being able to get to his spots, that just comes to him naturally. But it’s the intangible stuff (that separates him),” Gipson told KSR. “He’s the type of kid to take a charge, even though he’s the best player on the team. That’s the stuff that wins championships, and that’s what he brings. He’s always been a winner.

“He’s been a winner, not just against local high schools, this kid went up against the best of the best. Everybody that you said was good, he went against them. Outside of our last game of the year, he came out on top every time. He’s bringing that mentality there, if that’s the place he chooses to attend.”

To put it simply, the four-star guard is a player you want on your side when the going gets tough.

“He’s a likable guy. He’s a guy you want in your corner. If you’re in a foxhole, you want TyTy Washington there with you. That’s what you need to know right there.”

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