Tommy Lloyd’s reputation as a recruiter has grown into a national talking point. This season provided the clearest evidence: six former Arizona players, now scattered to other programs, combined to score around 82 points per game, a volume that turned heads across college basketball.

Put those six on a single roster and it’s reasonable to think they would have punched a ticket to the NCAA Tournament. In practical terms, Lloyd managed to cultivate the equivalent of two tournament-quality groups within one season — an unusual depth of talent for any coach to assemble.

North Carolina center Henri Veesaar shoots as Virginia Tech forward Amani Hansberry defends during the first half Feb. 28, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C.

That collective scoring output would have stacked up favorably against several Big 12 teams, including programs like ASU, Utah and Colorado among others. The point is less about individual names and more about how those transfers, when combined, created a potent offensive force capable of competing with established power-conference lineups.

Looking back, it’s rare for Arizona transfers to produce such high scoring totals elsewhere. You have to dig through decades to find similar individual seasons: Leon Wood, who moved on in 1984 and averaged about 24 points as a senior at Cal State Fullerton, and Ruben Douglas, who led the nation with roughly 28 points per game as a senior at New Mexico in 2003.

Concerned that Lloyd might lose too much talent to the NBA draft? His recent track record suggests he can pivot without a major drop-off. Whether by recruiting new impact players or retooling lineups, he’s shown an ability to adapt and keep his teams competitive.