PHOENIX, Ariz. — Back in 2015 the Arizona Men's basketball team added the second ranked high school recruit Allonzo Trier to the Wildcat Family. Now four years later Trier is continuing to make a name for himself, this time in the bright lights of New York City.
"Now that I look back it (College) did go by fast," former U of A guard Trier said. He adds, "I was fortunate to play with some great teammates."
After rehabbing back from injuries sustained in a auto accident, star guard Allonzo Trier had goals of cutting down the nylon for the Arizona Wildcats. But once the teams championship run came to an end Trier made a business decision. To forgo his senior season, and focus his life on the game he loves.
"I knew i was good enough to play in this league," Trier explained. He went on to say, "When you have faith in god and you work incredibly hard at your craft, believing in yourself then nothing can really stop you."
On draft night Trier received a number of calls from teams interested in selected him in the second round, but with those teams jammed up in guard play, he turned them down. Trier said he had a feeling that he was destined to play on the hardwood elsewhere. After going undrafted he would end up signing a two way contract with the New York Knicks.
"It was already a place that I had great communication with before," Trier said. He adds, "I definitely knew I'd becoming into a a good opportunity for myself and I just felt this was the best place for me."
Not only did Trier never play a minute in the G-League, he became the first two-way player to sign a guaranteed NBA contract within the first two months of the season. A $7-million deal for the man who bet on himself on draft night.
"He's just so determined, so competitive and works so hard," David Fizdale Head Coach of the New York Knicks said of Trier. He adds, "It was going to be really hard to keep him from that contract and from making our team, it's just a testament to his work ethic and his competitive spirit."
