(Vicky Graff Photo)
Auburn senior Horace Spencer spent one year at Findlay Prep in Las Vegas playing with Kentucky sophomore PJ Washington. What Washington did this year, especially during Southeastern Conference play, came as no surprise to Spencer.
“PJ has always been a good player so I knew he had potential to develop into a great player. He is really showing what he can do now at Kentucky,” said Spencer.
Washington is averaging 14.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 blocks per game going into tonight’s SEC Tournament quarterfinal game. He is shooting 52.1 percent from the field, 42.3 percent from 3-point range and 673 percent at the foul line. Every number is up from last season.
Washington made only five 3-pointers all of last season. This year he’s 30-for-71.
“Definitely a better shooter than he was back at Findlay Prep. I have seen him really work on his game. PJ is a great player, great guy,” Spencer said.
Former Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy, now a SEC Network analyst, watched Washington played close to 50 times in high school because he was recruiting players on Washington’s AAU team.
“He has way more versatility this year,” Kennedy said. “He was always strong, could always make plays off the dribble. I also thought he was always an underrated passer. But his offensive has really expanded. Some of it is getting more opportunities to show what he can do, but you also cannot take advantage of an expanded role unless you have really worked to get better.
“He has a unique ability to make plays with the ball for a guy his size and his perimeter shooting has opened that up even more. With Reid (Travis) being out (with a knee injury), it has really crowded PJ’s space inside and his production dropped some but that was not his fault.”
Kennedy has not been shocked to see Washington got from a 24 percent shooter from 3-point range last year to one of UK’s most consistent shooters this season.
“One skill that guys can dramatically improving if they work is shooting. PJ has always been fundamentally sound but he’s obviously put in work on his shot,” Kennedy said.
“Still, shots have to go in for you to gain confidence. He started the season taking open shots and making them. Now he’s taking and making tough ones. You typically see that when college guys go to the pros and they have more time and more people to work with them. It’s a real tribute to PJ and the work he’s done on his own that he’s got this much better this year.”
Spencer understands how valuable Washington has been to UK all season and will continue to be in the postseason.
“He is probably the biggest role player they have got. As a leader of the team, he could be the man if he wanted,” Spencer said. “I don’t really know for sure what all they count the most on from him but he’s really good at doing whatever they need. I just know he is the main focus, the main player they go to when they need it and he usually delivers like great players do.”
