Wildcats basketball: California Commit and Tower Center Chance Comanche

Sean Miller and the Arizona Wildcats basketball team is bringing more sunshine to Arizona: Beverly Hills High School’s tower center Chance Comanche

Chance Comanche is a name that will stick with you for a long time, pretty cool.  He was offered by 13 schools, most notably, UCONN, Gonzaga and Louisville, but also by five “other” Pac-12 schools UCLA, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, and USC.

Chance’s hometown is Beverly Hills, California, a stone’s throw from where I am sitting right now, a great place to live, eat, drink, shop and star-gaze. In Tucson, he won’t be gazing at movie stars, but the stars he will be gazing at will be his teammates, himself in the mirror and in the beautiful Tucson night sky.

Comanche is ranked No. 11 on the 2015 ESPN Top California Recruits list, just 9 below his future Wildcat teammate Justin Simons.  He is ranked No. 17 in the West and now 90^th overall (up from 97 last year).  He signed his letter of intent (LOI) to join the second ranked incoming freshman college class on November 12, 2014 according to his announcement:

Chance wears the jersey #21, stands 6 foot 11 inches, weighs 220 pounds and his leading his Beverly Hills “Normans” High School team to a 23-5 overall 10-0 League record thus far under head coach Jarvis Turner . Chance transferred to Beverly Hills this year, he played for View Park Prep his sophomore and junior years where he averaged 15.7 points and 13.7 rebounds per game.

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The motto of Beverly Hills High School is “Today Well Lived.”  I like that; we should all aspire to live each day well.  I was a little curious on their team name, The Norman’s, so I looked it up and according to the schools website:

“The coat of arms includes a lion on an orange backdrop, representing the lion of William the Conqueror, the greatest Norman.” He was the greatest Norman because he was the first King of England  who came from Normandy, England.  We look forward for Comanche to be the greatest Beverly Hills High Alumni to play for the University of Arizona!

Comanche’s strengths according to ESPN.go.com:

"Each and every season Comanche has taken his game to another level. He has a nice soft touch out to 17-feet and due to his length and improved bounce he can dunk over the top of would-be defenders. He has excellent timing on the defensive end that results in him being a high-level shot blocker. He is quick off the floor and is an effortless leaper. In the half court set he is a gifted passer from the elbow and overall his feel is improving."

Jeff Borzello of ESPN.com said, “Chance Comanche is a high-ceiling center who will contribute because of his length and defensive ability.”

Chance won over some critics at the Earl Watson Elite Scouts Camp being named one of “California’s Twin Towers” along with promising junior Jayce Johnson from Santa Monica High School. The two played each other on a couple of weeks ago and the Normans won by 16 points, 56-40, and it showed in their stats: Johnson scored no points and made seven rebounds, Comanche had seven points, seven rebounds as well and five blocks. Chance has a 40-3 record in league play as of two weeks ago.

Paul Biancardi, ESPN National Director Basketball, spoke on ESPN U about incoming 2015 classes across the nation.  When asked which team has the best incoming class, this is what he said:

"“Arizona this class sits at his number two in our rankings with 4 top 100 prospects. [..] And the big fella, Chance Comanche, whose a Lean post player that has demonstrated the ability to rebound, block shots and make shots”"

Welcome to the University of Arizona 2015 Freshman class Mr. Comanche, the broadcasters are going have fun saying your name over and over, fans are going to have a blast cheering you on, and your neighbor down the street, yours truly, wants to just say that I can’t wait to write about your successes, remember In-N-Out > Five Guys and #BEARDOWN! Chance

Comanche following his 29-point performance in a win over Lawndale:

Here are some of Comanche’s highlights from Courtside Films:

Next: Meet Justin Simon