Arizona Lands First Transfer Portal Addition
Arizona picked up its first transfer portal commitment this week, as former Washington guard JJ Mandaquit officially joined the Wildcats. The former highly touted recruit is now looking for a fresh start in Tucson.
During his freshman season at Washington, Mandaquit averaged 5.2 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game while making six starts. With Jaden Bradley declaring for the NBA Draft, Arizona had a clear need at guard and ultimately turned to Mandaquit after exploring other portal options.
Strong Connection with Tommy Lloyd
This move isn’t entirely surprising given Mandaquit’s prior relationship with head coach Tommy Lloyd. Lloyd has led USA Basketball’s U18 and U19 teams in recent years, and Mandaquit played under him on the 2025 U19 squad, where he helped win gold. That connection played a key role in bringing him to Arizona.
Mandaquit has earned three gold medals with Team USA and showed solid production internationally, further highlighting the upside that made him a top-50 recruit coming out of high school.
Role with the Wildcats
While Mandaquit brings talent, he’s expected to serve in a supporting role. With Derek Dixon also transferring in, Mandaquit will likely come off the bench as a backup at point guard. His experience logging nearly 20 minutes per game at Washington should help him adjust to that role.
Though not a headline-grabbing addition, Mandaquit gives Arizona valuable depth and playmaking off the bench. His ability to facilitate and keep the offense flowing should allow for a smooth transition when rotating with Dixon.
As the Wildcats continue retooling their roster, Mandaquit marks the first step in what they hope will be another run toward the postseason.
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