Jack Purchase transfers from Auburn to Hawaii

After a frustrating freshman season at Auburn in the Southeastern Conference, promising forward Jack Purchase has transferred to Hawaii.

Jack Purchase - Courtesy Auburn University

The sweet-shooting forward from Melbourne was sparingly used during the 2014/15 season, playing only 7 games for 1.3 points and 1.1 rebounds per game. Unable to gain any real opportunity to display his capabilities at Auburn, he made the decision to transfer and has since committed to Hawaii who play in the Big West Conference. As a result of his move, he will be forced to sit out the 2015-16 season due to NCAA transfer rules, however he is able to maintain three years of eligibility.

Hawaii's New head coach Eran Ganot has a long history in recruiting Australian players, most recently as associate head coach at Saint Mary's where he coordinated all recruiting and scouting efforts. In adding Purchase to his roster, he was full of enthusiasm with what he brings to his team.

"We are fired up to welcome Jack to the Rainbow Warrior basketball family," outlined Ganot.

"Jack is well-regarded for his high skill set and tremendous basketball IQ, particularly at his size. He and his terrific family are a great fit for our program, this university, and the islands. It's no secret that Australia is a place we would like to target and for Jack to start us off there is a real shot in the arm. He comes from the very highly respected Melbourne Tigers program, where his father, Nigel, played professionally."

Not only is Purchase a son of a former NBL player, he was also mentored by his father's best friend and Australian Boomers legend Andrew Gaze, someone he credits as helping become the deadly shooter that he is. In announcing the signing, Ganot was confident that the best was yet to come for Purchase.

"While we are thrilled with his current abilities,the opportunity is there to make significant strides as his potential and ceiling are very high. Jack has a very bright future and we are ecstatic it will be at the University of Hawai'i," explained Ganot.

While he is now closer to home after making the move to the Pacific, he now also has a new opportunity to show what he can do. We just need to wait another to see him make the most of that chance.