TCU basketball expecting Chuck O’Bannon Jr. to return next season
TCU basketball is losing Mike Miles to the NBA Draft and Francisco Farabello to the NCAA transfer portal this offseason. But the Horned Frogs are expecting the rest of their contributors to return next season.
That includes forward Chuck O’Bannon Jr., who had a team-leading 23 points in the Frogs’ overtime loss to No. 1 seed Arizona in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
O’Bannon didn’t go through TCU’s senior ceremonies in the home finale and the feeling had been that he’d return for next season. That is the case, at least for now, as he’s told the coaching staff that he intends to play for the Frogs at least one more season.
He could have as many as two years of eligibility remaining even though he’ll be entering his sixth college season in 2022-23. O’Bannon started his college career as a true freshman in 2017-18 at USC. He then took a redshirt season in 2018-19 after sustaining a pinkie injury early in the season that required season-ending surgery. O’Bannon was then limited to just three games in 2019-20 due to a hand injury, which could qualify him for a medical redshirt season if he pursued it.
O’Bannon transferred from USC to TCU during the 2019-20 season, and played his first full season with the Frogs in 2020-21. However, the NCAA granted a free year of eligibility that season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
For now, O’Bannon has not pursued the medical hardship waiver and signs point to him likely playing just one more college season. He turned 23 this past season and is scheduled to graduate next month. He’ll be focused exclusively on basketball next season and could pursue professional opportunities afterward.
O’Bannon is a significant piece for TCU to return next season. He averaged 9.5 points per game and was arguably the Frogs’ most consistent 3-point threat.
TCU is also expected to return guard Damion Baugh (10.6 points), forward Emanuel Miller (10.3 points, 6.2 rebounds) and center Eddie Lampkin (6.8 points, 6.2 rebounds). Other players expected back include guard Micah Peavy, who was the Frogs’ best on-ball defender, center Xavier Cork, who flashed on both ends of the court late in the season, and forward JaKobe Coles, who is expected to take significant strides by being fully healthy this offseason.
TCU is certainly being viewed as a team to watch next season, especially after it ended a 35-year drought between NCAA Tournament victories and won a program-record five games against ranked teams.
CBS Sports’ college basketball insider Jon Rothstein has TCU ranked No. 14 in his way-too-early preseason poll. Other outlets with high hopes for TCU next season include The Sporting News, which has TCU at No. 11 in its way-too-early poll, and 247Sports, which has TCU checking in at No. 15.
This story was originally published April 5, 2022 at 4:32 PM.
