Max Hazzard transferring to Arizona is ‘major decision that will shape’ 2019-20 season

The Arizona Wildcats added to their backcourt last month when they landed UC Irvine graduate transfer Max Hazzard, a 5-foot-10 combo guard who just so happens to be the younger brother of former UA walk-on Jacob Hazzard.

It remains to be seen what kind of impact Max will make for the Wildcats, but NCAA.com’s Andy Katz thinks it will be a big one.

Hazzard transferring to Arizona made Katz’s list of 11 major college basketball decisions that will shape next season.

Here is his rationale:

Hazzard led the Anteaters to an upset over Kansas State in the first round of the 2019 NCAA tournament. He wanted to go up a level, so Max joined his brother Jacob in the desert. His arrival at Arizona, along with one of the top recruiting classes in the country, immediately elevates the Wildcats for next season in their quest to get back into the NCAA tournament.

At minimum, Hazzard figures to provide quality 3-point shooting, something the Wildcats sorely lacked this past season. Hazzard shot 38.7 percent from beyond the arc, despite hoisting nearly seven per game. Arizona only shot 33.6 percent from 3 as a team.

Hazzard could also be a guy the Wildcats turn to in dicey moments. Like Katz mentioned, Hazzard was a force in UC Irvine’s big upset of Kansas State.

He was also the Big West Tournament MVP.