AUBURN, Alabama – One of three freshmen on Auburn’s 2022-23 basketball roster, Westry Opportunity he has shown his versatility in summer practices as the Tigers prepare for their three exhibition games in Israel. Coach bruce pearl notes that Westry is off to a solid start as a player who can handle multiple positions.
“I think Chance will play some point,” Pearl said of the 6-foot-6, 190-pound freshman. “I think he will play without the ball. He is a very versatile point guard.
“I think Chance will end up playing for us this season the most where there’s an opportunity because he can play in a lot of different places,” the coach said. “He will compete with all those guys for some playing time. He will do the rotation.”
A four-star recruit out of Pennsylvania, Westry played last season at Compass Prep in Arizona, where he was ranked the No. 44 overall prospect in the signing class of 2022, according to 247Sportsand the No. 14-ranked forward chose Auburn over LSU and others.
When asked how the summer has been going since he started training with his new team, Westry said: “It’s been great. All of my teammates are great guys, on and off the court. We motivate each other: positive energy, no days off, just people who love to work.”
The newcomer has fired up well in preparations for Auburn’s three games in Israel that begin with a matchup on Tuesday against the Israel Under-20 National Team.
“I’m looking forward to the trip, just the experience of how we play together, go up and down the court and have a great time,” he said.
Westry said he’s fine playing whatever position on the floor Pearl puts him in, whether it’s small forward, guard or point guard. “I just want to be acceptable wherever the coach puts me.”
Westry said he has been very well received by those who returned from last season’s SEC champion team.
“The older boys have treated us like their brothers,” he said. “Even the new guys, we stick together like brothers. Age doesn’t matter, we respect each other and we’re great companions.”
The freshman added: “This is a great program. The culture is very big. Being in this culture and environment, you want to learn and take everything seriously.”
Westry said he’s keeping his goals simple for his first season as a college basketball player. “I just want to be better than I was yesterday.”
The Tigers have been learning the international rules they will use for their three exhibition games. Another change is basketball. The Tigers have been training with FIBA-approved balls like the ones that will be used in Israel.
“The international ball has no grip,” Westry said of the difference from the ones used in the United States. “We just have to get used to it and prepare to play in Israel.”
Westry said the trip will take him farther from home than he has ever traveled before. He has downloaded movies to watch on flights back and forth. He noted that he is looking forward to seeing the Holy Land.
When asked what he was looking forward to about the trip, he said, “I just learn and we can also play basketball and have a good time, and just get closer to God.”
His coach has noted the potential Westry brings as a scorer and defender. “He’s a good player, he’s got great feeling,” Pearl said. “I felt pretty good about him when I recruited him and he hasn’t disappointed me at all. His work ethic has been excellent, a great teammate.
“Like any young person, he’s going to do some really good things and he’s going to do some things like any other freshman, you smile and you roll your eyes.”
All three games in Israel are scheduled to start at noon CDT and each will be televised on the SEC Network. After Tuesday’s game against the Israel U-20 National Team in Jerusalem, the Tigers will play an all-star team in Tel Aviv on August 7 and the Israel National Team the following day in Tel Aviv.