University of Tennessee at Chattanooga basketball coach John Shulman said Wednesday that Alex Bran will join the team as a walk-on for the upcoming season.
Bran is a 6-foot-1 point guard who played at St. George's in Memphis. He was also a Mr. Football candidate last fall as a quarterback.
He will add depth to a position that is thin right now with senior Dontay Hampton rehabilitating from an ACL tear, leaving freshman Farad Cobb as the starter with walk-on Andrew Houts as a reserve.
"He really is a strong, aggressive and tough point guard," Shulman said. "For timing's sake, it couldn't have been better."
St. George's coach Jeff Ruffin said Bran averaged about 18 points, six rebounds and three assists per game while shooting about 75 percent from the foul line and nearly 40 percent from the 3-point arc to help lead St. George's to a 22-8 overall record and the Division II-A state quarterfinals.
Bran first appeared as a potential recruit when he attended the UTC Elite camp. But he chose to attend Air Force Prep Academy in the summer before changing his mind to enroll at UTC and walk on.
A complication with the NCAA eligibility center -- dealing with Bran transferring from a high school with semesters to one with trimesters -- delayed his official inclusion to the team.
"He was cleared and he's completely eligible," Shulman said. "We're thrilled to have him, and he's excited to be here."
David Uchiyama is a sports writer at the Chattanooga Times Free Press who began his tenure here in May 2001. His primary beats are UTC athletics — specifically men’s basketball and athletic department administration — and golf, which includes coverage from the PGA Tour to youth events. He also covers other high school sports, outdoor adventures, and contributes to other sections of the newspaper when necessary. David grew up in Salinas, Calif., and began working ...
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