Zach Clemence backs out of UCSB commitment, will come back to Kansas basketball

In a surprising turn of events, Kansas basketball will return former UCSB commit Zach Clemence as its 11th scholarship player.

“The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.” – Zach Clemence, probably.

Kansas Jayhawks transfer forward Zach Clemence will return to KU for his junior season. He was one of eight Jayhawks to enter the transfer portal this offseason and had committed to UC Santa Barbara last month. However, head coach Bill Self confirmed he had returned to the university and is practicing with the team.

Clemence, who won the national championship with Kansas as a freshman in 2022, was a high-end 4-star recruit coming out of high school. Across his two years with the program, he averaged 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. Clemence posted double digits in the points column twice but has hit some big shots.

What makes this move even more surprising is that he will redshirt the 2023-24 campaign. Instead of heading to UCSB to instantly become a starting-caliber player, he would rather sit out a year to work on his game and come back better than ever. That’s something you have to commend him for, especially with how the new age of college basketball and the transfer portal has become.

With big man transfer additions such as Hunter Dickinson and Parker Braun, it would have been tough for Clemence to see the floor in any capacity. The hope is that when Braun graduates and Dickinson heads to the NBA, he will be able to serve as a solid stretch five for the Jayhawks.

Kansas basketball now has two scholarship spots available next season, as redshirts still take up a spot on the roster. Coach Self could leave the roster be or pick up a wing in the transfer portal to round out the team.

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