Ganot adds Australian connection

The Hawaii basketball team has its first Australian connection of the Eran Ganot era.

Jack Purchase, a 6-foot-8 Auburn transfer with a shooting touch, is expected to be officially announced by UH on Sunday as the latest addition to the team.

"I can’t wait to get there and get to work," Purchase said Saturday via phone from his native Australia.

Purchase, of Melbourne, played sparingly as a true freshman under Bruce Pearl in the SEC last season. Pearl replaced the fired Tony Barbee as Auburn coach in March 2014, after Purchase had already signed with the program under Barbee prior to the 2014-15 season.

Purchase appeared in seven games for the 15-20 (4-14 SEC) Tigers, totaling nine points, eight rebounds and four assists for the season. All but one of his 14 season field-goal attempts were 3-point attempts.

"Auburn was good. The coaches were good. It just didn’t work out there, wasn’t a good fit for me," Purchase said. "I needed to get to another school where I’d get more of an opportunity. I’ve heard a lot of great things about Coach Ganot in the past."

Auburn, incidentally, comes to Honolulu for the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in December. However, Purchase the swingman — described as a natural small forward who can play the 2 or the 4 if necessary — must sit out the 2015-16 season per NCAA transfer rules. He will have three seasons to play afterward.

"It’s the perfect scenario. It’s a new, fresh start," said Nick Abdicevic, director of coaching of Purchase’s old juniors club team, the Melbourne Tigers. He coached Purchase in Australia for about five years, from ages 14 to 19.

Most recently with Melbourne, Purchase averaged 21.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists, while hitting 47.8 percent of his 3-pointers.

Hawaii beat out San Diego of the West Coast Conference for Purchase’s services. He visited both campuses in recent weeks.

"He’s a very talented player," Abdicevic said. "Someone at 6-8, 6-9, who can shoot the ball and pass the ball really well. I think once he gets used to the system and used to playing at that level, I think fans are going to be really excited about his ability. He’s a super-IQ, very talented young man. Reads the game really well."

Ganot has spoken of wanting to establish a pipeline of players from Down Under, similar to the success enjoyed in that respect by Saint Mary’s, his former team.

Purchase will be only the second player from his country in program history. Michael Harper (2012-14) was the other.

"I’m really happy to be the first Aussie (with Ganot)," Purchase said. "I already know you’ll see a lot more Aussies coming through. It feels pretty cool when you’re the first one to go, because I know these guys will be bringing a lot of guys through the pipeline."

Purchase comes from a family with a rich basketball tradition. His father, Nigel, played for the Melbourne Tigers pro team in Australia’s NBL for 10 years. His mother, Simone, also played the sport. His uncle, Andrew Gaze, is considered an all-time Aussie hoops great.

Purchase is the third player added to the team since Ganot’s arrival. The others are Central Wyoming College point guard Bryce Canda and former Arizona State forward Sai Tummala.