ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ added another player to its 2019-20 roster on Tuesday, when UC Irvine guard Max Hazzard announced that he is joining the Wildcats as a graduate transfer.Ìý
The decision came quickly after Hazzard visited the Wildcats over the weekend. He did not schedule another visit, though Hazzard had considered Gonzaga, Cal, Minnesota, Pitt and TCU, along with returning to Irvine for his final season of college basketball.
While ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ does not currently have an open scholarship, guard Brandon Randolph has announced plans to test the NBA Draft waters; there also could be more roster movement in the coming months.
Hazzard made the announcement in a video posted to Twitter by Uninterrupted.
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Dear , It was an honor going to battle with you..., EXCLUSIVE: announces his transfer to
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted)
Hazzard, aÌý6-foot, 170-pound guard,Ìýwas a second-team all-Big West pick and MVP of the Big West Tournament last season while leading the Anteaters to their first-ever NCAA Tournament win.
Hazzard had 23 points against Cal State Fullerton in the final of the Big West Tournament, and then 19 against Kansas State in the NCAA Tournament. UCI lost to Oregon 73-54 in the second round, when the Ducks held Hazzard to 1-for-8 shooting from 3-point territory and seven points overall.
After the season, Hazzard soon announced plans to explore the graduate transfer market, and ESPN rated him the .
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ — with its need for a shooter and proximity to Hazzard's Los Angeles home — made a lot of sense. Hazzard attempted 6.5 3-pointers per game last season, hitting 38.7% of them; both figures would've been tops among Wildcats regulars.Ìý
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ “is a high-major program, a high-major basketball team and a high-major coach,†Hazzard told the Star's Bruce Pascoe last week. “That’s always been something I’ve wanted.â€
In his announcement video, Hazzard said his past four years at UC Irvine flew by with good memories, while also thanking head coach Russell Turner and assistant Ryan Badrtleai.Ìý
"They took a chance on me back in high school when a lot of coaches didn’t," Hazzard said. "It was an honor going to battle with you day in and day out as well as the rest of my team. It’s always been a dream of mine to play at a high major program and I’m now blessed with the opportunity.
"With that being said I will graduate from UC Irvine in June and transfer to the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. To al my Irvine, people take care; I'll always be an Anteater. To all the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ fans, it's time to bear down."
Hazzard joins a crowded backcourt that, were the season to start today, would include five-star freshmen Nico Mannion and Josh Green, four-star freshman Terry Armstrong, sophomore returners Brandon Williams and Devonaire Doutrive, junior Alex Barcello and senior Dylan Smith. (Randolph is not expected to return).Ìý
👀👀. yessir, welcome to the family!!
— niccolo (@niccolomannion)
Sheesh 👀 keeps getting better...ðŸ»â¬‡ï¸ looking forward to playing with you bro
— Josh Green (@josh_green6)
Hazzard has a UA connection: His brother, Jacob, was a former walk-on at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ who last played under Sean Miller in 2016.Ìý
“I would watch the games with my parents pretty closely, rooting for blowouts so I could watch my brother play,†Hazzard said.Ìý
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Let’s run!!!! The Hazzards are back in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥!!!
— Jake (@JacobHazzard)
Hazzard said he will graduate with a degree in sociology this June. The Wildcats will have two graduate transfers for the second straight season, with Cornell transfer Stone Gettings joining the UA frontcourt, following the departure of grad transfers Ryan Luther and Justin Coleman.
Check out photos of the newest ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcat here:Ìý
Photos: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats land UC Irvine grad transfer Max Hazzard
BWest Cal State Fullerton UC Irvine Basketball

UC Irvine guard Max Hazzard (2) celebrates with forward Collin Welp, right, after Welp makes a shot and gets a foul called on Cal State Fullerton on the play during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the Big West men's tournament championship in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, March 16, 2019. UC Irvine won 92-64. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
BWest Cal State Fullerton UC Irvine Basketball

UC Irvine guard Max Hazzard (2) shoots as Cal State Fullerton forward Davon Clare, left, defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game for the Big West men's tournament championship in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, March 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
UC Irvine Kansas St Basketball

Kansas State's Cartier Diarra, center, shoots under pressure from UC Irvine's Elston Jones, left, and Max Hazzard, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 17, 2017, in Manhattan, Kan. Kansas State won 71-49. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
BWest UC Riverside UC Irvine Basketball

UC Riverside's Dikymbe Martin, right, shoots under pressure from UC Irvine's Max Hazzard during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Big West conference men's tournament Thursday, March 9, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
UC Irvine UCLA Basketball

University of California Irvine, guard Max Hazzard (2) and UCLA center Thomas Welsh (40) battle on the floor in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Los Angeles Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
BWest Cal State Fullerton UC Irvine Basketball

UC Irvine guard Max Hazzard celebrates after making a 3-point basket against Cal State Fullerton during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game for the Big West men's tournament championship in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, March 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
BWest Cal State Fullerton UC Irvine Basketball

UC Irvine starters guard Evan Leonard (14), guard Max Hazzard (2), forward Tommy Rutherford (42) and forward Jonathan Galloway (5) celebrate in the last seconds of the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Cal State Fullerton for the Big West men's tournament championship in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, March 16, 2019. UC Irvine won 92-64. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
BWest Cal State Fullerton UC Irvine Basketball

UC Irvine guard Max Hazzard (2) shoots over Cal State Fullerton forward Johnny Wang (33) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the Big West men's tournament championship in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, March 16, 2019. UC Irvine won 92-64. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
BWest Cal State Fullerton UC Irvine Basketball

UC Irvine guard Max Hazzard, center, takes a selfie with a fan after an NCAA college basketball game against Cal State Fullerton for the Big West men's tournament championship in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, March 16, 2019. UC Irvine won 92-64. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
BWest Cal State Fullerton UC Irvine Basketball

UC Irvine guard Max Hazzard celebrates with the MVP trophy after his team defeated Cal State Fullerton in an NCAA college basketball game for the Big West men's tournament championship in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, March 16, 2019. UC Irvine won 92-64. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
NCAA UC Irvine Oregon Basketball

Oregon guard Payton Pritchard drives to the basket past UC Irvine guard Max Hazzard during the first half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Sunday, March 24, 2019, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
NCAA UC Irvine Oregon Basketball

UC Irvine guard Max Hazzard looks to shoot against Oregon during the first half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Sunday, March 24, 2019, in San Jose, Calif.
NCAA UC Irvine Oregon Basketball

Oregon guard Payton Pritchard, right, dives past UC Irvine guard Max Hazzard during the first half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Sunday, March 24, 2019, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
NCAA UC Irvine Oregon Basketball

UC Irvine guard Max Hazzard drives to the basket past Oregon forward Kenny Wooten during the second half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Sunday, March 24, 2019, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
NCAA UC Irvine Kansas St Basketball

UC Irvine guard Max Hazzard gestures during the first half of a first-round game against Kansas State in the NCAA Tournament, when his Anteaters upset the fourth-seeded Wildcats in San Jose, California.
Contact sports content producer Justin Spears at 573-4312 or jspears@tucson.com. On Twitter @justinesports