Fultz’s 1 rocky year of Washington stardom

By Tim Booth SEATTLE >> His final moments of college were spent as a cheerleader. Reduced to sitting on the bench of a glitzy Las Vegas arena, hoping the teammates he bonded with for his one season could extend their run another day so he could cheer again.

This was not the script expected for Markelle Fultz, arguably the best player ever to step foot on campus at Washington. He dazzled on the floor, but by the end, he was a spectator, with concerns about his future trumping any short-term benefit of his college cameo.

Fultz spoke extensively with The Associated Press four times during his freshman year: in October, before the season began; in late January, with the Huskies 2-6 in conference play; in February, after Fultz missed two games because of a sore knee; and after Washington’s season ended with a 78-73 loss to Southern California in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament.

The conversations showed an unexpected maturity for a kid who won’t turn 19 years old until May. Fultz understood his standing in the basketball world, living up to the expectations of a star even as his team fell short. But Fultz also flashed some teenage tendencies, like spending maybe a little too much Fultz time practicing trick shots or a craving for Chick-fil-A.

Depending on the analyst, scout or pundit, Fultz is expected to become the highest drafted player ever from Washington. He’s universally regarded as a topfive pick in a class that includes Dennis Smith Jr., another potential lottery pick who failed to reach the NCAA Tournament in one year with NC State.

Despite Fultz’s remarkable talent, Washington had other deficiencies that led to a 9-22 record and a sixth straight season missing the main event of March Madness.

The following are snapshots of the four conversations with Fultz over the span of 4½ months, a season that did not follow an expected course. them. I say what’s up and stuff like that. It’s just the way I go around. I don’t want people to think like, ‘Ah he’s trying to stand out’ and stuff like that.” about the one-anddone, comparing me to a lot of different players in the conference and around the country,” Fultz says. “A lot of people try and compare me to Ben Simmons, which I think is nothing alike.”