Chace Stanback Set To Transfer
By Bruin Basketball Report
Freshman forward Chace Stanback plans to transfer to another school at the end of the spring quarter, UCLA Head Coach Ben Howland announced today.
"Chace is an outstanding young man and we appreciate what he did for this program this past year," Howland said. "He helped us win a Pac-10 championship and get to the Final Four and we will always be appreciative of his efforts. We are supportive of him and his future in whatever direction he decides to go."
Stanback played sparingly in his first and only year at Westwood, appearing in 25 games and averaging 1.0 points and 0.7 rebounds in 5.8 minutes per game
The 6' 8-wing was the 2007 California Division I Player of the Year and a two-time state champion at Fairfax HS.
He has not made a decision as to where he will transfer.
"After speaking with my family and thinking about it for a long time, I feel that it is in my best interest to explore other opportunities," Stanback said. "I want to thank my coaches and teammates because they have helped me improve as a player and grow as a man and I am thankful to them for that. I have a lot of great memories and really enjoyed my time here at UCLA."
With incoming McDonalds All-American freshmen, Malcolm Lee and Jrue Holiday arriving, its uncertain how much playing time Stanback would have received next season on the wing. The Bruins also have Michael Roll and Josh Shipp, if he returns, at the position.
Stanback's departure opens up a scholarship next season and creates a scenario where the Bruin would have scholarships for all returning lettermen and incoming freshmen.
At present, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, and Josh Shipp have declared for the NBA without hiring an agent. With Stanback's upcoming transfer, if all four lettermen decide to return next season, the Bruins will have 13 scholarship players - including the four players from its stellar incoming freshmen class (Lee, Holiday, Drew Gordon, and Jerime Anderson).
A NCAA Division I school is allowed 13 basketball scholarships per season.
(photo by Bruin Basketball Report)
Labels: Team Misc News
BBR :: Article Link :: 11:00 AM ::
33 comments
33 Comments:
I was really hoping Chance would turn into something but there was really no place for him starting anytime soon. I am still surprised.
Terrific young man. I'm suprised he didn't get more playing time. Not sure what happened during practice, but I guess Howland knew what he was doing. Too much competition to assure Stanback a lot of playing time, which he deserves. I wish him the very best. By the way, if he turns into the next Michael Jordan, I'm getting season tickets to the USC games.
I was very surprised to hear this news too. Next one to go will be Dragovic. Best wishes to Chace.
Chace, I see your potential. You seem like a great kid...Bruin Fans everywhere wish you nothing but the best....keep your head up...thanks for the year!!! We will be pulling for you!!
Oh, definitely stay Div 1....
Wow, I was hoping this guy could make a jump similar to Russell Westbrook next year. I was listening to AM570 today and Kenny Miller mentioned Josh Shipp would not return regardless of what NBA scouts say. It seems like Josh was determined to make this his last year, maybe a factor in his late season collapse. If shipp leaves, I would assume that Stanback benefits the most considering Luc and Keefe would play more PF. Regardless, I wish Chace the best and hope he developes into a great player.
I don't get some UCLA fans. Seems they only want what they can't have. First they beg for Love/Westbrook to come back, then they have this blasé attitude toward Collison returning. Now they want Stanback to stay. The same Stanback many fans were remarking looked so lost, may not be tough enough and that Howland made a mistake in signing him. Now he's transferring out and there's a flood of panicked posts on every board, like UCLA just lost a superstar, and Howland's players hate him and want out. Look, players leave all the time, so what? UCLA will just get someone else. Hey mon, one more scholarship opening!
BTW, don't believe that fallacy going around that Howland passed on James Harden for Stanback. Harden was never coming to UCLA. Harden's HS coach from Artesia was hired as an assistant at ASU by Sendek to get Harden and make inroads with other SoCal recruits. Harden was always an ASU lean and if UCLA did somehow get Harden, it's likely Jrue Holiday wouldn't be a Bruin.
Wow - things change fast around here.
I had figured that Stanback would benefit plenty in coming back his second year once he beefed up and learned the system (much in the same way that both Keefe/Westbrook did paying their dues). My thoughts were that he would lift and workout over the summer and come back making a statement next year.
I'm a little disappointed that HE didn't feel that way.
To me it is a bit of an indication that Shipp is indeed coming back since that would be the position that would block Stanback. Seems like he would be better served to stay because sitting out a year or waiting for Shipp to leave is a wash. However - if he does not have confidence in his ability to perform at this level - I guess best to know it now.
In the big picture - I believe this puts us in a bit of a bind down the road. I realize that we have a highly touted recruiting class coming in but I would temper expectations a bit since we are talking about freshman here. I think Holiday can play out of the box and Gordon will certainly have to ... but I'm not so sure about Lee/Anderson. I'm not knocking them in the least - but there is a big jump between high school and college - add to that - learning AND excelling in Howland's defensive schemes takes a bit of time (oh and strength). I suppose not much of an issue with Anderson who is a true point who won't play much behind All-American Collison - so he will get his year. Lee played most of the year out of position (center I believe) so he might need some catching up - and some catching up in muscle to his size.
O.K. mathematically it works out great on paper if everybody returns. But that isn't likely ... and down the road our pipeline is going to be looking mighty thin. Not to mention the BIG issue.
BBR - where do you weigh in on this? Good/bad or we hardly knew ya? How would you compare this to Ryan Wright's departure. Concern or normal days of our bruins drama.
ryan wright was always a soft player with potential but not a ben warrior type... stanback actually looks good when he play sparingly but i guess he's quick to realize he doesn't want to play ben ball...
not to criticize... but i think ben's system prevents their players to look good to the pro scouts as oppose to coach K's system that make duke players look awfully good to scouts from the pro... I think almost all players' stock dropped because they came back instead of leaving early, the more they play under howland's system the more flaws they are exposed, mainly because we play man defense which leaves all your defensive flaws out open (love inability to rotate quickly and play man on with faster players, collison's inability to guard physical guards, shipp's lack on focus that result by getting blown past and back door cuts) farmar was smart to leave early as his lack of lateral weakness will hurt his stock (i saw him get burn too many times this year). In addition, howland's system does not give players freedom to show what they are capable of doing in a free flowing offense which really hurt players like collison, shipp who loves to run... LRMM as well... i bet LRMM will rise his stock if he plays for SC like what devon jefferson did (now a mid to late 1st round pick)...
don't get me wrong here, i love ben ball, and i've grown to love defensive struggles... but the stubborness i think is hurting the future of our players... i just feel like with ben's system we always have a chance to be in most games with good defense, but we never have good offense to dominate games and that's what i've felt the past 2 seasons... in pro terms, we are more like the houston rockets and maybe spurs and pistons but not like the lakers or the suns... well at least we are not the nuggets... and as long as we are not the bobcats (when is hollins ever going to play?) what do you guys think?
ps as for the possible arugement that see westbrook's stock rise, i think it's mostly due to a) his potential, with a good build, quickness and hops b) highlight reels on youtube that really got his name nationwide, and c) main beneficinary of love's outlet pass that led to numerous dunks d) being the 3rd/4th option on offense (not having many touches and scoring on scraps actually makes him look better in front of scouts, as oppose to shipp where plays were run for him yet he was unable to deliver)
I'm going to have to disagree with the argument that Howland's system makes our players not look good to pro scouts and hurts their draft potential.
After all, Howland's already got two first round picks (Farmar and Afflalo), and this year, he will probably have two more in Love and Westbrook. At some point this past season, people were even saying there were four potential first rounders (adding a Moute and Collison).
If a Moute stays, next year could potentially see more first rounders with a Moute, Collison and Holiday.
Before Howland arrived, who was the last first round Bruin? Jerome Moiso in 2000. Baron Davis went first round in 1999. Before that? Ed O'Bannon and George Zidek in 1995.
Now Howland comes along and starts a string of first rounders, so I don't go for the argument that his system doesn't make his players attractive to the NBA.
Bottomline is I feel to an extent UCLA fans have never experienced this kind of period of sustained success (at least not since Wooden) and we're not used to attracting the kind of talent Howland is now attracting, and not used to the drama of players leaving early because they can, or players transferring because of the excess of talent and lack of playing time.
These are things North Carolina Tar Heel fans have had to deal with for a long time.
You become a top program, you attract top talent, top talent tends to leave earlier, just becuz they can. And that's why we should be so grateful for Darren Collison.
I am very disappointed Chace Stanback is transferring. I don't know if he's been told by Howland that Malcolm Lee or someone else has a shot at leap frogging him, otherwise I'm not sure why he's doing this.
Oh well, it's a part of life when you have top recruiting classes year after year.
Howland may have used "straight talk" with Chace and encouraged him to consider a transfer. Stanback has good offensive ability but his defense was going to keep him out of the regular rotation atleast one more year. Don't worry people, Howland is brilliant and will use this extra scholarship for somebody special. Good luck Chace
Anytime a program loses quality kids and players like Chace Stanback and Ryan Wright, it hurts the program.
If Wright had stayed, or even redshirted, he would have been a two-year starter at center for a team that will go very deep in the tournament every year.
As for Chace, who knows how he would have developed as a sophomore since the biggest jump in a player's improvement usually occurs between their frosh and soph year. At 6'8, slim, and not extremely quick, he could have problems guarding a quick 2 or 3 and too slight to guard a 4.
But much of his development as a soph would have depended on how much work he was willing to put forth this summer. Russell Westbrook turned himself into a possible-lotto pick from simply a good prospect but was tireless in his approach to improve over the summer in the gym.
Not sure of Chace's mindset but perhaps he wasn't willing to put forth the effort to improve his body and defensive shortcomings, at least to the level expected at UCLA by Coach Howland, in order earn significant minutes next season.
But no doubt, its never good for a program to lose quality players. And Chace was a quality kid.
- BBR
BBR - totally agree. When you lose a recruit like this you end up throwing away the time/resources involved in landing/keeping him not to mention the related future benefit/payback dividends.
You have to think Howland had a plan for him and transferring now wasn't it.
You saw last year how injuries can and will impact the program when you least expect - all the more reason why you need the depth and continuity.
Shitte happens I guess.
Chase ... we hardly knew ye.
bbr - completely agree with you. the only fathomable reason that could explain this is the discrepancy between the kid's idea of work ethic and coach's idea of work ethic - either academically or athletically. does anyone know anything about chace's academic standing/position? could this be a reason? or does he just not see himself putting forth the effort coach would require for him to be a starter?
What is upsetting most people is the potential Chace had. A lot of them are looking at the progress made by Darren and Russell and are extrapolating it to Chace. Furthermore, Chace was a lot better prospect than either of them coming out of high school, and he has a lot more length at 6'7".
However, there is no way to know if he could also make the jump like Darren or Russell did. They put in the hard work and turned their pre-college 3 star ratings into possible first-round draft picks--Russell, possibly the NBA-lottery. That's VERY impressive.
From what I hear, Chace is a good person, the kind of person you'd want on your team. Maybe he doesn't think he would make the same type of improvement from his freshman to sophomore year. Maybe he doesn't like playing defense. Who knows? There is a possible logjam of talent returning (I see only Love and Westbrook leaving).
What I do know is that Howland has exceeded all expectations anyone had of him with 3 consecutive Final Fours, most with lower-rated talent, RELATIVELY speaking, of course. Put the same talent in another coach's hands (Billy Donovan, Roy Williams, or Calipari), and he would be hard-pressed to match Ben's success. So cut him some slack, ok?
I think Howland's point guards tend to over-dribble, but honestly, I am very pleased with the job Ben's done. I can't wait to see what he does with the incoming class. Jrue Holiday is something special, and Malcolm is legit.
Ben is doing a great job, and is attracting the right type of talent. And the talent level is noticeably increasing. (Reeves Nelson is rock solid.) All Ben needs now is the championship! I think he gets it done in the near future.
Anyone who thinks Howland's development of players is not revered by the NBA is crazy! It was because of Howland that Ced Bozeman and Dijon Thompson had their respective cups of coffee in the NBA and that Ryan Hollins is still in "the league.". Farmar and Afflalo are much better players because of Ben. Ben develops in players exactly what the NBA is looking for: toughness, tenacity, and a passion for defense.
For some reason Chance reminds me of Tayshaun Prince. I wish he had his talent too!
All your posts are getting way too long and monotonous...
I'll give it to you short and not sweet: Stanback would never amount to the level any of you were hoping for.
Too slow
Weak Defense
A step off
Sorry, but call them the way I see them!
Get up on the wrong side of the bed BruiMaster? I love ALL these comments on BBR! Keep them coming.
JW
whatever.. ucla has big enough name to have recruits hoping in anytime... even at lavin worst years we still have all mikie Ds here and there... and they are doing alright in pros, earl watson, kapono, matt barnes...
what i was trying to say is that unlike coach K who utilizes the best of his players... Reddick sucks and it is reflected in the pros, yet he is a star in college and was like a 17th pick... don't u guys think affalo is better than him all-around? i just think that our system just expose the flaws of our players and fail to show the best of them... one example would be love and collison... if we play a zone, love's lack of speed, collison lack of finesse to play against physical players could be hidden... if we push the ball more instead of slow it down rough it out half court offense, it can utilize collison's speed... if we can run better plays love will at least be able to catch the ball... u know what i'm saying... like with LRMM he was picked to be a lottery pick if he left his 1st year, but after every year his stock has dropped... from lottery to first round, now he's not even a 2nd round pick... that's frustrating... and u know with his natural abilities he can have success... oh wells... whatever
go bruins! at least we'll make a run in the tournament every year
bbr: No way Ryan Wright starts for two years at UCLA. Horrible hands. Alan: excellent points, although even though no one remembers it, North Carolina sucked for a few years before Roy Williams. Willis: agree completely. NBA GMs are not dumb. Drafting a UCLA player means you are getting both talent and refinement. Brui Master: interesting comments. I didn't see enough of Stanback to form an opinion. You may well be right.
Dee: I have to disagree with your comments re: LRMM. After Luc's freshman year, some people (not necessarily credible people) opined that Luc COULD be a 1st rounder. But his precipitous drop (draft stock wise) is attributable to injuries--NOT Howland's style of play. Last year Luc had tendinitis which limited his quickness and explosion; this year he had the ankle sprains and the concussion.
The most infamous "knock" on Howland's style has been our "limited" offensive abilities. Fellow Bruins--WAKE UP! We don't have the same personnel that UNC or Kansas or even Memphis had over the last 3 years. If we played the running game there is no way we make it to the Final Four back-to-back-to-back. Howland was merely adapting his offense to his personnel (and their respective strengths and limitations). In certain games this past season Howland pushed the pace, but in others he kept it in the half court where we had the advantage (a guy name Love- you heard of him?). No doubt Howland will adjust again next year as the talent level rises (especially among the guards--our major weakness in terms of depth last year).
I don't know about you but I'd feel a lot better about our front court if we still had Ryan Wright. The guy was athletic and only would have gotten better under Howland esp after he learned the system.
i guess we'll find out when ryan wright finally gets to play for oklahoma (or is that oklahoma st) this year... well Brue if things are like u say they are... then Howland will be gearing for run and gun style this year since we will be an undersized team...
man nba playoffs is such a bore... and i've got to wait another 6 months of college bball action
Anyway you look at it, this is not good news. Only reason I can think of is that maybe his defense was too far from being improvable and Howland told him he would not get much playing time... although I doubt this is the case. Chance will be missed. He had a nice stroke.
Brue- good call on Howlands style. He has playing the game based on his personel. Howland has become regarded as a defensive minded coach but when he came in he was thought of an offensive guru who played hardnosed defense. With the group of gaurds coming in we may see a total new style...with great defensive fundamentals.
a poster on "gutty little bruins" purporting to be chace's TA states that he was not doing well academically. anyone else have insight as to whether the academic demands of UCLA may have been more than he bargained for? it will be interesting to see if he chooses a school that is less academically rigorous.
a poster on "gutty little bruins" purporting to be chace's TA states that he was not doing well academically. anyone else have insight as to whether the academic demands of UCLA may have been more than he bargained for? it will be interesting to see if he chooses a school that is less academically rigorous.
Yea, much more fast break kazam-dunking action is coming with the Fantastic 4. I hope the defense stays though. Wouldn't trade one for the other.
Stanback was too laid back,
slow minded and undecided,
if yall not on Howland's page,
then the only way we can gage,
is yall better off playing fo 1A,
cuz with the big boys yall can't play
I think me agrees with the Brui Master. Though my comment is not as artistfully put, Stanback was not what the Bruin program was looking for.
I do wish him well on whatever court his sneaker's step.
Let's bring on a solid BIG to replace him!!!
Typical spoiled kid who is taking his ball and going home. First of all, he doesn't "deserve" playing time, you earn that and be happy you have a scholarship to one of the top schools in the country. Second, he actually could have competed for a lot of playing time, but apparently he is too spoiled a brat to either earn his time or fight for it. Weak.
Sorry if this isn't the right place to ask this question, but I'm running out of options. I've just completed an Etch A Sketch of Russell Westbrook and I'm trying to find a way to contact him and get him a copy. If anybody could help me, I'd appreciate it (and I'm sure he would too) you can see the piece at http://www.etcha.net/side.html
and I can be emailed at etcha@etcha.net
thanks!
Chace is probably a small d 1 player. He could never compete on the top level.
No foot speed , no muscle and slight of heart = bench player. Wish him well and welcome the new guys. Is Shipp serious?? He should hope for a 5th and 6th season if he plans to play longer than next year. There is very little need for a slow, can't create his own shot, weak defender at any level.
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