Zach Bohannon will regret leaving Air Force’s basketball team

April 19th, 2011, 1:31 pm · 12 Comments · posted by david ramsey

AFA coach Jeff Reynolds

Zach Bohannon made a baffling decision this week. He announced he’s leaving Air Force’s basketball team.

Bohannon would have started for the 2011-2012 Falcons. Would have played a key role. Could have become the team’s second-best player behind Michael Lyons.

Instead, he heads off into the unknown.

He could be heading off to basketball oblivion.

Bohannon is an ideal player for Air Force. He’s more skilled than talented. He’s listed as 6-foot-8, but he’s 6-foot-8 the same way Nick Welch was 6-foot-8. I’d place him at 6-foot-6, same height as Nick.

Air Force’s system allows limited players such as Bohannon to become solid, reliable college basketball players. Bohannon fit in well with the system. He played diligently for coach Jeff Reynolds. He played wisely. He played effectively.

Bohannon walked away from a nearly certain starter’s job.

I don’t see him starting at too many other Division I programs.

Bohannon told The Gazette’s Frank Schwab this was a personal, not basketball, decision. He did not see himself serving in the military.

If that’s the truth, his decision makes at least some sense.

If he made the decision on the basis of basketball, his decision makes no sense.

Here’s Frank’s story from today’s Gazette:

http://www.gazette.com/sports/force-116458-air-transfer.html

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Al says:

April 20, 2011 at 7:33 pm

Dave- have to disagree. A few reasons why:
You say Bohannon played “wisely” and “effectively” he also played sparingly. He never got consistent minutes and I’m not convinced he’d get many more next year. Further, I don’t think JR is committed to having physical players on the floor — note a guard has led AF in rebounds more often then not the last few years, AF abandons the offensive boards like rats off a sinking ship and a quick way to get pulled by JR is to commit a foul. Zach is more suited to a Missouri Valley team that grinds it out, hits the boards while shooting threes. While I hate to see him leave and think his timing is suspect since most squads are largely set for next year he could contribute on a team like Drake or Northern Iowa. His high school (Linn-Mar consistently produces DI talent with one kid going to UNC next year and Zach’s brother going to Northern Iowa) and family name are recognized in the Midwest for basketball excellence. Sorry for the long comment but I’m a transplanted Iowan so I followed his progress and I think he’ll be fine.

david ramsey says:

April 20, 2011 at 7:57 pm

Al – Thanks for the note and the analysis.

One thing:

Didn’t say Zach wouldn’t play or contribute. Did say he would have a hard time finding a starting job at most D-1 programs.

Think this was his best chance to start for a D-1 program in a quality conference.

I’m rooting for him to prove me wrong. Would love to see him starting somewhere else in a couple years. He’s a good kid.

cruising2012 says:

April 22, 2011 at 10:26 am

not a surprise he’s leaving now he’s required to make a commitment to the AF after his sophomore year and its not a surprise to those in his Iowa community that the commitment wasn’t there. It would have been more of a surprise if he’d actually stayed. His commitment was to play basketball the sacrifice for country to be an officer likely more than he imagined it would be. Good for him in being honest with himself and in saving taxpayers some money in figuring that out sooner than later. Gives the guys who know they want to become AF officers a chance at the scholarship money.

rjp says:

April 22, 2011 at 11:24 am

I find fault with any comment that suggests that everyone in his community ‘knew’ the commitment wasn’t there. Very strange that someone would say that….just curious…and may be part of the ‘problem’.

I hope Zach made the right choice for ‘himself’ and did not make the choice based on thought/pressures/concerns from anyone back in Iowa.

Best to Zach in all his endeavors.

April 28, 2011 at 11:13 am

you find fault? but most here saw the pressure on him inherent with any kid who’s parents pushed/promoted and conjoled all those around him to showcase his athletic abilities. From what I’ve read of those assessing his game at the AF Academy doenst seem his ‘skill’s were being showcased like he was accustomed to back home. That being beside the point the most important thing to note is he recognized his lack of commitment to military career and publicly acknowledged it which says alot for his character.

Bryan says:

May 9, 2011 at 2:58 pm

He is going to Wisconsin where his older brother played. He will be a short drive away from his family, which has always been important for him. He will be on a great team with a great coach. Basketball oblivion? Nope.

krink says:

May 9, 2011 at 3:07 pm

“I don’t see him starting at too many other Division I programs.”

Lots of folk said the same thing about JBo.

May 9, 2011 at 3:08 pm

Basketball oblivion is sitting at the end of a bench.

You think he’s going to start at Wisconsin?

I don’t.

Hector says:

May 9, 2011 at 8:12 pm

David Ramsey is mad! He didn’t want to be a Cadet get over it.

May 9, 2011 at 9:51 pm

Hector – “David Ramsey is mad!”

That’s true.

But I’m not mad about Zach leaving Air Force. That’s his business, not mine. I’m not an Air Force alum, not an Air Force fan, not an Air Force homer.

I’m mad because my vacation ended on Saturday. Could have used another six or seven weeks off.

Kyle says:

May 10, 2011 at 10:52 am

He might not start for the Badgers, but maybe he would rather play for a winning program that goes to the NCAA tourney every year. He will get some minutes, and could earn himself a starting spot by his senior (5th) year.

Your article comes off as sour grapes…

May 13, 2011 at 6:22 pm

he might want to play for a winning program ? So you all think he went to the AF Academy to become a top notch basketball player and to play in tourney’s? I would hope you were wrong. If thats true then shame on Bohannon for taking the taxpayers money to fund his education so that we could train him to serve our country. You all have seriously missed the boat on one very important point….if he went to the AF Academy just because he wanted to play basketball then uuummm what would he have done at the end of his final year of training to be a MILITARY OFFICER when they handed him his orders to whereever the hell they wanted to send him which wasn’t going to be the freaking NBA?? Are you all from Iowa or something where you have no concept of military service as in after his two years at the Academy the AF owns him for a good many years. So of course the AF Academy doesnt ‘always’ have a winning ‘basketball’ program …that they can have a winning program at all given their first priority is to produce top notch Military officers ….is impressive. He wasn’t good enough to get a scholarship to Wisconsin that struck at his ego so he decided to stroke his ego with a scholarship to the AF Academy…only he figured out he wasnt’ cut out for teal warfare.