Arizona forward Daniel Batcho enters NCAA transfer portal

A knee injury kept Daniel Batcho from playing in his first college season. Whenever he does make his debut, it won’t be with the Arizona Wildcats

Batcho has entered the NCAA transfer portal, per Verbal Commits, ending his UA career without ever seeing game action. The 6-foot-11 French forward underwent knee surgery in late October, and though he did return to practice in January he was never cleared for game action.

Batcho committed to Arizona last April, one of a slew of international players the Wildcats signed in the 2020 recruiting class. He averaged 14.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game with CFBB Paris in last year’s Adidas Next Generation Tournament, earning MVP honors.

His departure leaves Arizona’s roster with only three scholarship big men: redshirt sophomore Jordan Brown, sophomore Christian Koloko and freshman Azuolas Tubelis, though that could easily change depending on who the Wildcats’ new head coach is.

Batcho is the second projected member of Arizona’s 2021-22 team to depart since Sean Miller was fired last week. Incoming freshman guard KJ Simpson has reportedly re-opened his recruitment.

Redshirt junior guard Jemarl Baker Jr. had previously entered the transfer portal, as did seniors Terrell Brown Jr. and Ira Lee, who have since committed to Washington and George Washington, respectively, while redshirt sophomore guard James Akinjo is testing the NBA Draft waters but could still return.

Arizona has two other 2021 signees, guards Shane Dezonie and Shane Nowell, and had received a commitment from former Eastern Washington wing Kim Aiken Jr. the day before Miller was fired.