Parker Jackson-Cartwright has a pretty simple plan of attack for improving as a point guard.

The junior from Los Angeles follows the lead of his coach, Sean Miller – a standout point guard in his own right.

"I just try to be like him, and do everything he tells me to do because I know it works," Jackson-Cartwright said. "He's taught me about playing tougher and not taking a play or practice for granted. If your foot isn't on the gas and you're not passionate and you're not playing hard, you can't play for him."

And that is how the education of Jackson-Cartwright is going these days.

The 5-foot-11-inch, 170-pound point guard came to Arizona as a highly-sought after recruit from Sierra Canyon High School in Southern California prior to the 2014-15 season.

His first year with Miller and the Wildcats was a learning experience. He played in 34 games, averaged 2.9 points per game and dished out nearly a pair of assists per game.

Last year, his sophomore season, he took another step in his development. The point guard played in 34 games again, making six starts. His minutes per game average went up from 9.6 to 21.2 and all of his production increased too. He averaged 5.2 points per game, posted 3.4 assists per game and averaged more rebounds and steals as well.

But now, as he prepares for his junior season, expect to see a side of Jackson-Cartwright that hasn't been seen during his collegiate career. After his team's 86-35 win over the College of Idaho on Tuesday, Miller raved about the progress Jackson-Cartwright has made since arriving in Tucson.

"This has been his process leaving high school as a very undersized point guard," the coach said. "Physically in his first year, he was not ready to do more than he did. However, he made progress. In his second year, he was a much better overall player and much more ready than he was as a freshman. This year, he's just taken another jump."

The coach continued: "You have to credit his work ethic and his patience. What has ended up happening is he now looks again like he did in high school. This has been his path. At some point this year or next year, he can emerge as one of the best to play the position because a lot of things he does passing the ball that not a lot of point guards can do."

That's extremely high praise coming from Miller, who excelled at the position collegiately while at Pittsburgh. And, surprise, surprise, Miller looks to be dead on in his assessment of his point guard.
In Tuesday's win, Jackson-Cartwright had total control of his team from the point guard position. He played 28 minutes, scored 11 points, dished out five assists, grabbed four rebounds and picked up three steals. He served as an extension of Miller and the leader of this year's team.

"Coach Miller teaches me to be vocal and an overall leader," Jackson-Cartwright said. "It's bigger than just yourself out there. As the point guard, you have to have control of the other four guys out there at all times. He just keeps that on me every day in practice."

Of course, with Arizona's deep tradition at point guard, Miller hasn't been Jackson-Cartwright's lone mentor at Arizona. During his freshman year, when he played those 9.6 minutes per game, Jackson-Cartwright tried to soak up every piece of knowledge from then starter T.J. McConnell, who is now with the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers.

"I still think about T.J.," Jackson-Cartwright said. "From what he did for us as a freshman from my end, he embodies the whole position. I can't thank him enough. I watched him for that whole year, and I still watch him."

And soon, with the circle of point guard life at Arizona, others will look to Jackson-Cartwright the same way he did at McConnell, which he'll surely be ready for.

"The freshmen did a great job out there tonight," Jackson-Cartwright said. "I remember my first game out there. I was nervous. But these freshmen came out today, and it didn't bother them. It's exciting and I'm looking forward to working with all of them."