Da’Zhon Wyche
Da’Zhon Wyche of Anchorage never dared to dream he’d become one of the greatest college basketball scorers from Alaska.
His first instinct has always been to pass the ball. He was usually the smallest player on the court growing up, so his dribble-drive-dish game became his MO.
“I’d rather get an assist than score,” said the UAA senior out of West High.
That’s what you’d expect from a 5-foot-9 point guard. Most guys that size are pass-first players because typically their offensive game isn’t quite up to snuff.
But Wyche is different.
He breaks the mold because in addition to being an awesome assist man he can score at all three levels, thanks to a lavish layup package, a terrific 3-point jumper and a fabulous floater.
Add it up and it’s easy to see how Wyche has cracked the top-10 on Alaska’s all-time men’s college basketball scoring list with 1,611 career points entering Thursday’s home game against Montana State Billings at the Alaska Airlines Center.
“It’s a blessing,” Wyche said of his name appearing alongside legendary players. “I try not to think about it because I’m all about the team, but once I sit back and look at it, it’s honestly a blessing to be in that company.”
ALASKA’S TOP TEN
Men’s College Basketball Career Scoring Leaders
2,478 – Brad Oleson, UAF-Peninsula 2001-05
2,095 – Doron Perkins, Santa Clara-SWOCC 2001-05
1,974 – Trajan Langdon, Duke 1994-99
1,902 – Peter Bullock, UAA 2000-04
1,667 – Travis Thompson, UAA 2010-15
1,662 – Jason Kaiser, UAA-Weber State 1991-95
1,629 – Rod Jones, UAF 1993-97
1,611 – Da’Zhon Wyche, UAA-UTT-LCCC 2016-23
1,607 – Chris Devine, Santa Barbara 2005-09
1,571 – Kyle Bailey, Santa Clara 2000-05
“I know a lot of the names,” he added, “but some other ones I had to ask people about and hear all these stories about how good they were and stuff.”
Wyche is the only player on the list under 6 feet. Not only that but he weighs a mere 150 pounds. Yet, somehow, he still manages to get his shot off against bigger, stronger, taller opponents.
In his last game against Texas A&M International, he collected 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
“One thing about Da’Zhon is he is very tough physically despite a slight frame,” said UAA head coach Rusty Osborne.
There is no quit in him. Remember 2015?
March Madness Alaska Flashback – Da'zhon Wyche sends the 2015 4A Boys Basketball Championship into overtime! pic.twitter.com/swppD42ogp
— ASAA (@ASAA_org) March 9, 2016
A two-time Class 4A Player of the Year in high school, he went to Laramie County Community College in Wyoming, where in two seasons he scored 895 points – the third most for an Alaska at the junior college level.
After that, he went to Texas Tyler, a NCAA Division II school, where he scored 603 points in 53 games while reuniting with Anchorage’s Louis Wilson, a family friend who is the head coach.
This year he came home to finish his college career at UAA and has pumped in 113 points in seven games. Moving up Alaska’s all-time scoring list wearing an Alaska Anchorage jersey has meant a lot to Wyche.
“It makes it 10 times better. Way better,” he said. “I feel like the city is really with me.”
UAA’s Da’Zhon Wyche of Anchorage. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
His homecoming has reminded people, even in his inner circle, just how successful he’s been in his career. People can lose track, especially when you leave the state.
“A lot of my friends didn’t know I was that high on the list,” Wyche said with a laugh, “so for me to be able to share that moment with them is pretty good.”
His new UAA teammates have found out, too, as Wyche ranks fourth in the GNAC in scoring (16.1) and second in assists (4.9) to help the new-look Seawolves start 4-3.
“With us having no starters back, his experience at the D2 level has been invaluable,” Osborne said.
FLOOR GENERAL
Career-High Assists for UAA Players from Alaska
13 – Bryan Anderson (Dimond) 1994
12 – Travis Thompson (Dimond) 2011
12 – Da’Zhon Wyche (West) 2022
10 – Butch Lincoln (Kotzebue) 1996
10 – Chris Hamey (Juneau) 1998
10 – Scott Larrabee (Dimond) 1998
10 – Jim Hajdukovich (Monroe) 1999
Wyche owns a 34-to-10 assist-to-turnover ratio, a stat that defines court vision and court sense.
“Da’Zhon has had a very good start so far. He is a dynamic player who plays best with some freedom, but he has not let that freedom affect his turnover numbers,” Osborne said. “We do not have the biggest team, so we have made some adjustments in the way we play this year. His ability within our pressure system has set the tone and we have been able to offset our lack of rebounding with a big turnover differential.”
With 483 career assists, Wyche is on the verge of becoming the fourth Alaskan to reach the 500-assist benchmark in college.
“Da’Zhon is very passionate about playing, and plays with a high level of confidence,” Osborne said. “We are trying to get him out of his comfort zone, working with him on leading more verbally and not just by example because his teammates have quickly gained respect for him.”
MEET THE TOP TEN
Brad Oleson
Rank #1
Points 2,478 Player Brad Oleson Height 6-3 Position Shooting Guard Hometown North Pole (North Pole) Schools UAF 2002-05; Peninsula 2001-02 Games 115 Career Average 21.5 Career High 39 Notes Division II All-America First Team. Two-time GNAC Player of the Year. His 733 points in 04-05 are the most in the GNAC by an Alaskan; his 686 points in 03-04 is No. 2. His 595 points in 01-02 are the second most in the NWAC by a player from the state. Owns Alaska’s longest 3-point streak of 59 games.
Doron Perkins
Rank #2
Points 2,095 Player Doron Perkins Height 6-3 Position Point Guard Hometown Anchorage (Bartlett) Schools Santa Clara 2003-05; Southwestern Oregon 2001-03 Games 117 Career Average 17.9 Career High 55 Notes Two-time All-WCC First Team. Two-time Southern Region MVP. His 650 points in 02-03 are the most in the NWAC among Alaskans. Ranks No. 3 in career assists (505) and No. 2 in single-game scoring (55) among players from the state. Owns Alaska’s single-game record with 10 steals.
Trajan Langdon
Rank #3
Points 1,974 Player Trajan Langdon Height 6-4 Position Shooting Guard Hometown Anchorage (East) School Duke 1994-99 Games 136 Career Average 14.5 Career High 34 Notes Two-time Division I All-America Second Team; Alaska career leader in 3-pointers (342) and games; His 155 career points in 11 NCAA Tournament games is No. 1 among Alaskans; Named NCAA Tournament All-Regional in 1998 and East Regional Most Outstanding Player in 1999.
Peter Bullock
Rank #4
Points 1,902 Player Peter Bullock Height 6-8 Position Power Forward Hometown Anchorage (East) School UAA 2000-04 Games 111 Career Average 17.1 Career High 40 Notes Seawolves’ career scoring leader. First UAA player to lead the Great Alaska Shootout in scoring and rebounding in 2002. Repeated his scoring title in 2003 and finished as tournament’s all-time leading scorer (213).
Travis Thompson
Rank #5
Points 1,667 Player Travis Thompson Height 6-1 Position Guard Hometown Anchorage (Dimond) School UAA 2010-15 Games 122 Career Average 13.7 Career High 35 Notes Division II All-America Third Team. His 640 points in 13-14 rank No. 4 in the GNAC among Alaskans. Ranks No. 4 in career 3-pointers (302) among players from the state and his 41-game 3-point streak ranks second behind only Brad Oleson’s 59-gamer.
Jason Kaiser
Rank #6
Points 1,662
Player Jason Kaiser Height 6-5 Position Shooting Guard Hometown Anchorage (Service) Schools UAA 1993-95; Weber State 1991-93 Games 106 Career Average 15.7 Career High 40 Notes Division II All-America First Team. Two-time PacWest Player of the Year. Scored 35 points to lead UAA over Wake Forest at Great Alaska Shootout in 1993. Won NABC All-Star Game 3-point shooting contest in 1995.
Rod Jones
Rank #7
Points 1,629 Player Rod Jones Height 6-3 Position Shooting Guard Hometown Fairbanks (Lathrop) School UAF 1993-97 Games 105 Career Average 15.5 Career High 34 Notes Two-Time All-PacWest. Ranks No. 3 on UAF’s all-time scoring list behind Milo Griffin (1,711) and Brad Oleson (1,833).
Da’Zhon Wyche
Rank #8
Points 1,611 Player Da’Zhon Wyche Height 5-9 Position Point Guard Hometown Anchorage (West) Schools UAA 22-23; Texas Tyler 2018-22; Laramie County 2016-18; Games 108 Career Average 14.9 Career High 36 Notes Only player under 6 feet to rank among Alaska’s all-time top 10 in scoring. His 895 career points in NJCAA are third most by Alaskan. Ranks No. 4 among Alaskans in career assists (483) and No. 7 in career 3-pointers (234).
Chris Devine
Rank #9
Points 1,607 Player Chris Devine Height 6-8 Position Power Forward Hometown Eagle River (Chugiak)
School Santa Barbara 2005-09 Games 119 Career Average 13.5
Career High 29 Notes Four-time All-Big West. Ranks No. 2 among Alaskans in scoring at the D1 level, trailing only Trajan Langdon (1,974). Ranks No. 1 all-time in career free throws (400) and No.7 in rebounds (723) among Alaskans. His career .525 FG% is sixth best among players from the state.
Kyle Bailey
Rank #10
Points 1,571 Player Kyle Bailey Height 6-2 Position Shooting Guard Hometown Fairbanks (Lathrop) School Santa Clara 2000-05 Games 127 Career Average 12.4 Career High 30 Notes All-WCC First Team. Only Alaskan to reach 1,500-point, 500-rebound, 400-assist, 150-steal career benchmarks. Scored 20 points as Santa Clara upset No. 4 North Carolina in 2005. Ranks No. 5 among Alaskans in career assists (452).