We are profiling each member of the 2013-14 Creighton Bluejays men’s basketball team. Check in daily leading up to Creighton’s regular season opener against Alcorn State Nov. 8 for an introduction to this season’s Bluejays, from newcomers to seniors. Check out all the previews here.
Zach Hanson (#40 / F / 6-9 / 245 lbs / Fr.)
Zach Hanson was the third and final member of “Triple H” to commit to Creighton. Just a month before beginning his senior season at T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, South Dakota, Hanson eschewed offers from Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa State, and Gonzaga, among others, and gave a verbal pledge to Greg McDermott and the Bluejays coaching staff.
Hanson had performed well in Creighton’s team camp in June 2012, coming off a junior season during which he earned the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year honors for averaging 17 points and nearly 8 rebounds and 2 blocks per game. His team finished third place at the state tournament.
With his college choice out of the way, Hanson turned in an exceptional senior season. He averaged nearly 20 points and 8 rebounds a game and again garnered the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year award. He also led T.F. Riggs to the Class AA state title for the first time since 1982.
Hanson, like Hegner and Harris, could be a redshirt candidate. But a quick deduction finds that Hanson stands the best chance of the three to play this season. McDermott must replace bruising Gregory Echenique with some combination of Will Artino, Geoffrey Groselle, Ethan Wragge, and Hanson. With the Jays set to face Big East-quality big men night in and night out and considering Groselle’s nagging health issues, Hanson may be in the mix for minutes as a true frosh.