The Arizona Wildcats are 16-2 and ranked No. 14 in the country, despite being without one of their best players in sophomore guard Allonzo Trier.
Trier averaged 14.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game along with a 36% three-point percentage during his freshman campaign last season. However, the sophomore has yet to play during the 2016-2017 season for unknown reasons.
On Wednesday night, ESPN broke a story revealing what those previously unknown reasons were: PED usage.
Trier still could play this year, but the chances of him playing remains “in limbo” as ESPN says. The guard failed a random drug test in September and Arizona was told of the fail in early October, which makes it hard to believe this news hadn’t come out yet.
Then again, Trier did appeal the decision and that’s where things get interesting- Trier won. However, the NCAA still prevented him from playing until the drug was completely out of his system. While Trier waits for the drug to pass through, he’s been allowed to practice and travel with the team.
When the story broke on Wednesday, Trier released the following statement:
Official statement from U of A men's basketball guard Allonzo Trier on his suspension for PED usage.@KGUNSports #NCAAbasketball pic.twitter.com/6fZpgLv5rN
— Max Darrow (@MaxDarrowTV) January 19, 2017
Since September the young star has been tested multiple times to see if the drug is still lingering in his system. The level of the drug has decreased, but as of the last test within the past two weeks, it was still in his body.
With 13 games remaining, it will be interesting to see if Trier is able to make it back and help the Wildcats. Despite the fact that Arizona is 16-2 and 5-0 in conference, it has been playing at times without Ray Smith (torn ACL), Parker Jackson-Cartwright (ankle), and Talbott Denny (knee) as well.
https://twitter.com/ISO_ZO/status/821919484252278784
[ESPN]
