Former 4-star BYU target and AJ Dybantsa's HS teammate is on the transfer market

He was the one that got away. The natural fit alongside BYU's superstar AJ Dybantsa, JJ Mandaquit had already spent much of his adolescent development alongside the potential number-one overall NBA pick as his Utah Prep and Team USA teammate.

Mandaquit, a 4-star prospect out of high school and Hilo, Hawai'i native, was heavily recruited by BYU out of high school. So much so, that the Cougars found themselves among the point guard's top four programs, and his final official visit before opting to play his freshman season in Seattle with the Washington Huskies.

It wasn't a great year for Mandaquit, or UW, as the Huskies struggled in the Big Ten and the freshman point guard averaged just 5.2 points and 3.2 assists in 19.7 minutes per game. His shooting numbers were agonizing, scraping 28.2% from long-range, and a passable 70.0% from the foul stripe.

The Huskies finished 16-17 on the year, and 12th in the Big 12 Conference, missing out on the postseason.

Hoping for a fresh start, Mandaquit will enter the transfer portal, opening another window of opportunity for the BYU basketball program he passed on a year ago.

Mandaquit is of the old guard. A classic floor general-type who prioritizes lubricating the offensive engine rather than relying on his own offense. He may not have posted eye-popping numbers as a playmaker or scorer as a freshman, but Mandaquit takes care of the basketball -- just 1.2 turnovers per game in nearly 20 minutes.

He plays best when surrounded by elite talent, playing butler and serving the stars to put them in favorable positions, only taking matters into his own hands when absolutely necessary. This is why he shines on the Team USA stage, effortlessly managing the variables around him and feeding those hungry mouths right when they need it most. He was Dybantsa's teammate at the high school and international stage, as well as Xavion Staton, a backup center still growing into D-1 form on BYU's bench.

Mandaquit stands at just 6'1" -- pedestrian for a D-1 point guard -- but he's beefy. A willing defender who thrives in half-court situations and relies on his strength and floor awareness to fill in the gaps of his mediocre athletic burst.

At BYU, his fit alongside Robert Wright III would be questionable -- two small guards make an opposing offense salivate -- but few players of Mandaquit's age have such a refined and mature understanding of the game. The steadying force when the other team gets hot, and a level head for when competition heats up, he's the type of presence that any team needs if they want to compete at the Power 5 level.

Maybe his high school recruitment is ancient history. Maybe Mandaquit or Kevin Young has moved on and no longer has any interest in uniting. But after a stale freshman campaign, BYU basketball could use a player like Utah Prep product, JJ Mandaquit.