TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Arizona men’s basketball team has had a few player subtractions in recent weeks. It finally has added someone.
Former Kansas forward/center Zach Peters committed over the weekend to play for Sean Miller and the Wildcats.
According to reports, the Peters, who left Kansas last semester after a number of concussions as a freshman last season, recently visited Arizona and was hooked. He chose UA over Texas and Oklahoma.
"He's going to do a fresh start in the Pac-12 and committed to Coach Miller," Tim Peters, Zach’s father, told the Arizona Daily Star. "He’s been very fortunate to play for a great program at Kansas and for a great coach like coach (Bill) Self. He just got healthy and cleared in February and has been back in the gym. We just started talking to schools three weeks ago, and Arizona just jumped in there ahead of the pack."
The Lawrence Journal-World reported that the 6-foot-9, 240-pound Peters suffered five incidents of trauma to the head in just more than a year, eventually deciding to transfer away from Kansas. Peters is from Plano, Texas, and was a three-star recruit last year.
It’s not clear if Peters will be eligible to play right away. Under NCAA transfer rules, he’d have to sit out the season because he’s a transfer, but because of the injuries, he’s expected to appeal the NCAA for fall eligibility.
Forward Angelo Chol left Arizona two weeks ago and decided on San Diego State, and center Grant Jerrett, in what seemed like a surprise move, declared himself eligible for this summer’s NBA draft after playing minimally last season a freshman.
It was five years ago that Jeff Withey left Arizona after his freshman year to play for Kansas. He turned into one of college basketball’s best big men this past season, earning second-team All-America honors.
