Sophomore Parker Jackson-Cartwright played his way into our hearts last year, feels stronger going into next season.

When you think of Parker Jackson-Cartwright, PJC for short, you think of an explosion on offense. His signature move is a drive from baseline to baseline; dribbling down the court, looks at a few options, pauses ever so slightly, then a punches straight through defenders to the basket for a lay-up which he seems to make a majority of the time.

I think of him as “The Enigma” as he seems to take the opposing team for a ride when he plays. Parker does things on the court the opposing players and sometimes his teammates just don’t expect him to do.

I have fun calling that play in my head, ‘he’s taking it all the way, you watch!’ Yes I talk to myself during games, but mostly I talk to myself out loud to my family’s dismay.

Back to PJC. A Players Program gave us a little summary of PJC’s last season:

Played in 34 games, averaging 2.9 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 9.6 minutes … Recorded a 2.61 assist-to-turnover ratio for the season … Shot 45.3 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent from three-point territory … Led Arizona in assists twice on the season … Scored a season-high 11 points in the home win over USC in February and passed out a season-high seven assists in the win over Gardner-Webb in December.

March 14, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (0) grabs a rebound during the first half in the championship game of the Pac-12 Conference tournament against the Oregon Ducks at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Wildcats defeated the Ducks 80-52. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Coach Miller has every confidence in Parker, he feels that Parker can hold his own when playing, “He’s coming in the game with confidence, which is great, and he’s making plays. So it’s not as if we’re in a holding pattern waiting for T.J. to re-enter the game. When Parker’s in, a lot of good things have happened, and as he continues to develop on defense I think that not only can his role grow a little bit but I think he can be even more effective.”

PJC is getting ready for next year, he reminisced today on his first season, “Overall I thought my freshman year was a success. Learning behind T.J. and just seeing him kind of handle the many pressures and all the things that go along with being a basketball player here was great for me. Because as a freshman you step in you just don’t know where to turn to and what to do. He was the perfect example for that. He guided me in the right direction on and off the court.”

He is working out this summer honing his skills, “I’m trying to work on the shot and the handle..every day, just take it day by day and try to work on something that maybe that can help me down the line.”

On Coach Miller, “He sees what I see and he just wants me to be an extension of him..I just try to pick his brain.”

Here is today’s full interview care of ArizonaWildcats.com:

