B.J. Frazier is following Chattanooga State basketball teammate Philip Jurick down Amnicola Highway to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Frazier, a 6-foot-7 forward, signed scholarship papers to play for the Mocs late Monday and will have two years of eligibility at UTC.
“B.J. is very athletic, and he is probably the one kid in the last few years to come through here that really has pro potential,” Chattanooga State coach Jay Price said. “He has a pro body and he has pro range. The only thing he has to work on is getting his timing back.”
Frazier played three seasons at Stephenson High School outside Atlanta before signing with Western Kentucky. After a season at WKU, he transferred to Chattanooga State for the spring semester of 2009 and played for the Tigers this past season.
“He fits us perfectly,” UTC coach John Shulman said. “He’s a 3 man that can play the 4 because of his body, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Frazier averaged about 11 points and six rebounds per game last season. Murray State, Tennessee State and Georgia State recruited him heavily until Frazier met with Shulman on campus.
“My impression is that he was going to sign with TSU. Then Shulman did an unbelievable job of recruiting, and B.J. was overwhelmed,” Price said. “He couldn’t say no. This is a home away from home.”
Frazier helps fill the void left by Ridge McKeither and Dante Harvey, who both transferred out of the Mocs program.
“He’s been through the deal at a DI program and went to the Sweet 16,” Shulman said. “Jurick went through a year of Division I. Those guys are different. Troy (Cage) was ready to roll, but his body wasn’t.
“I sense that B.J. and Jurick will transition in pretty easily.”