Washington Adds Veteran Guard Tayshawn Comer to Bolster Backcourt
The Washington Huskies recently received a new commitment for the men’s basketball program, landing combo guard Tayshawn Comer from Nevada. A fifth-year senior, he will provide ample competition for the backup point guard spot for a team with only one true floor general on the roster in Ryan Beasley.
This is a notable signing considering the Huskies already had a full roster at 15 players. While most players have already officially signed, Boris Tisma and Wini Braga are the only two international additions who reportedly have not. This likely means one of them has been unable to get cleared by the NCAA in time to play this November. It would be an unfortunate turn for Washington, as both Tisma and Braga projected to be heavy contributors.
Parker Friedrichsen and Tristan Devers are currently expected to compete for the backup point guard spot, but the two are eerily similar players. Both project as expert three-point shooters who are competent defensively. Neither possesses advanced ballhandling or passing chops, however.
Insert Comer, who gives this roster a new look as a change-of-pace ballhandler who can create his own shot and opportunities for others. He has a smooth jumper and advanced off-ball movement, repeatedly springing open off pin downs and other off-ball screens. He loves jumpers from the elbow or rising from three when given a hint of space.
A lightly recruited three-star prospect in 2022, Comer took his talents to Eastern Kentucky, where he averaged nearly eight points per game as a two-year starter. He then transferred to Evansville, where his scoring skyrocketed to 16.2 points per game and he surpassed four assists for the first time, averaging 4.1 per game.
Comer moved up to a more recognizable program at Nevada, where he started for a 24-12 team that reached the NIT, the secondary postseason tournament below the NCAA Tournament. He put up solid numbers, averaging 11.0 points and 3.6 assists per game while shooting a respectable 35% from three-point range. He did all of this while only coughing up two turnovers a game.
The Indiana native does struggle to get downhill and does not put much pressure on the rim. His shot profile is similar to that of last year’s Quimari Peterson or, for an NBA comparison, CJ McCollum.
He also does not add much defensively due to his smaller stature at 6-1. He averaged only 0.9 steals per game last season.
Overall, it is a solid addition at a position of immediate need with the season drawing closer. This is Comer’s final year of eligibility, so Sprinkle will hope to unlock him as a spark-plug sixth man off the bench who can hit clutch shots and distribute the ball effectively.
