Sophomore center Chance Comanche ended his Arizona Wildcats basketball career for good Friday, just in time for the weekend visits of two highly regarded Atlantic Coast Conference transfers.
Comanche’s decision to leave the Wildcats’ crowded frontcourt for professional basketball frees up a second scholarship for the UA’s 2017-18 roster, on which the Wildcats are aiming to add weekend visitors Cameron Johnson of Pitt and/or forward Chase Jeter of Duke.
The 6-foot-8-inch Johnson is a big wing shooter who is the rare grad transfer to have two seasons to play immediately, since he’s on track to graduate from Pitt this spring after just three seasons, one of which he redshirted. Jeter will sit out 2017-18 as an injured post transfer from the Blue Devils.
UA coach Sean Miller said at a fan event Wednesday that he expected to have a total recruiting class of six players including his four fall signees, even though he had only one scholarship opening at the time, so it’s possible he expected Comanche was leaning toward leaving.
Both Comanche and freshman wing Rawle Alkins declared for the NBA draft last month without initially signing with an agent, leaving open the option to return until May 24. Alkins remains undecided.
“I think we’re fully aware through our own team dynamics who will return and who will definitely leave and who you anticipate,” Miller told the Star earlier Wednesday. “There is some anticipation.”
Comanche is not projected to be one of the 60 picks in next month’s NBA draft and wasn’t invited to next week’s NBA combine, which is almost a prerequisite to getting drafted because 67 players are there, and some potential international draftees do not participate.
However, Comanche could be a candidate for one of the 60 new “two-way” contracts that guarantee players $50,000, with the chance to earn a total of between $76,000 and $279,000 depending on how many days they play in the NBA versus the D-League.
“He can be a two-way guy, why not?” Draft Express President Jonathan Givony told the Star via text message. “He definitely has upside.”
But the 6-11, 215-pound Comanche was only able to show that upside in spurts for the UA, in part because of the Wildcats’ talented frontcourts of the past two seasons. Comanche played behind Kaleb Tarczewski, Ryan Anderson and Dusan Ristic as a freshman in 2015-16, and behind Ristic and Lauri Markkanen last season, after missing both UA exhibition games because of an academic-related suspension.
Comanche averaged 6.3 points and 3.6 rebounds last season, while averaging 18.1 minutes per game. He had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds over 25 minutes at Stanford on Jan. 1 and played well when Ristic was out with a sprained ankle Feb. 18 at Washington: Comanche started against the Huskies, then collected 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting and seven rebounds.
But Comanche’s role wasn’t likely to expand any next season. Ristic will be back as a senior starting center and the Wildcats are bringing in one of the best players in the class of 2017, DeAndre Ayton, likely to play power forward.
There’s also returning forward Keanu Pinder, whose playing time increased toward the end of last season, and hard-playing incoming freshman forward Ira Lee, along with the possibility that 2018 forward commit Emmanuel Akot reclassifies to 2017.
“There wasn’t much room for him with those four bigs, and also Akot, who can play the four no problem,” Givony said.
On Twitter, Givony also posted this: “Basically, Arizona needed to pick between Dusan Ristic and Comanche, and picked Ristic. Makes sense with DeAndre Ayton and Ira Lee coming in.”
While Pitt’s Johnson is a shooting guard, his size and shooting ability makes him a candidate to play in the UA frontcourt, too, should he choose the Wildcats.
While Comanche isn’t scheduled to attend the combine, Miller said Wednesday that Comanche will have the chance to showcase himself in “several NBA workouts,” a process Comanche says he’s looking forward to.
“I’m thankful to coach (Sean) Miller for giving me an opportunity to play and be a part of such a great program as I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Tucson,” Comanche wrote. “It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to play in the NBA and I am looking forward to showcasing my talent during the draft process.”
In a statement he posted on Twitter, Comanche also thanked Miller for giving him an opportunity with the Wildcats, and former UA associate head coach Joe Pasternack “for his continued belief, support and push of me throughout the years.” He thanked UA assistants Book Richardson and Mark Phelps, as well as strength coach Chris Rounds, who notably helped Comanche gain 15 pounds before his freshman season even started in 2015-16.
“Last but not least I would like to send a big thanks to the greatest fans in the country,” Comanche said. “I truly appreciate all of you!”
