Key keywords: Arizona Wildcats men's basketball, JJ Mandaquit transfer, Washington Huskies basketball, college basketball transfer portal, 2024 NCAA basketball transfers, Pac-12 basketball roster moves, point guard recruiting, Tommy Lloyd basketball program The Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball program landed a major transfer portal win on Wednesday, securing a commitment from former Washington Huskies point guard JJ Mandaquit, a rising sophomore who emerged as one of the most promising young backcourt talents in the Pac-12 during the 2023-24 season. Mandaquit, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound floor general, entered the transfer portal earlier this month following the departure of Washington head coach Mike Hopkins, and held offers from more than 15 high-major programs across the country before choosing Arizona over reported finalists Gonzaga, Kansas, and USC. As a true freshman last season, Mandaquit averaged 8.7 points, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and shot 38.2% from 3-point range across 31 appearances for the Huskies, including 12 starts in the second half of the season after claiming the starting point guard role in late January. His breakout performance came against Arizona in February, when he posted 19 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals in a narrow 77-74 loss to the Wildcats in Tucson, a showing that reportedly caught the eye of Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd and his coaching staff. The addition of Mandaquit fills a critical roster gap for the Wildcats, who lost starting point guard KJ Simpson to the 2024 NBA Draft earlier this spring, and had been searching for a high-level playmaker to anchor their backcourt alongside returning shooting guard Pelle Larsson and five-star incoming freshman guard Carter Bryant. Lloyd, who has built a reputation for developing guard talent and maximizing transfer portal additions since taking over the Arizona program in 2021, praised Mandaquit’s competitive edge, basketball IQ, and defensive versatility in a statement released by the university. “JJ is exactly the kind of player we want in our program,” Lloyd said. “He’s a tough, unselfish playmaker who can facilitate offense, knock down open shots, and set the tone on the defensive end of the floor. We saw first-hand last season how much of an impact he can make against high-level competition, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the Wildcat family.” Mandaquit is the third transfer addition for Arizona this offseason, joining former Providence forward Bryce Hopkins and former UNC guard Seth Trimble, as the Wildcats look to build a roster capable of competing for a national championship in 2024-25. With the Pac-12 set to disband at the end of the 2023-24 academic year, Mandaquit’s move marks one of the highest-profile intra-conference transfer moves of the offseason, as the Wildcats prepare to join the Big 12 Conference for the 2024-25 season.