College Commitment – Chance Winter (2024 Beaverton)
Big men – especially rapidly developing ones – typically get a ton of recruiting attention in the spring, so Chance Winter Chance Winter 6'10" | C Beaverton | 2024 State OR could have waited. But the long 6-foot-11 post from Beaverton felt no need to delay the process. After a recent trip to see the College of Idaho, the senior felt no need to play things out any longer and after the turn of the New Year into 2024, announced that he had signed on the bottom line to be a Yote next season.
“They were my first offer and when I went on a campus visit shortly after my offer, I fell in love with everything,” Winter said. “I fell in love with the team, the campus, the people there – everything about it just checked every box that I’ve had. Overall, it was the best pick for me, and I’m super excited about it.”
When asked to go through the boxes Winter had, he couldn’t stop gushing. “The basketball court’s awesome and the coaching – Coach Blaine – is amazing,” Winter said. “I love his coaching style. He actually coached the younger team on the (Idaho) Select team that I played for over the summer. I’ve traveled around the country with him, so he knows my burger menu, like, what I order at food restaurants – we’re connected like that, so it’s a good coaching style.”
“And then the team is awesome,” Winter continued. “They invited me in, took me under their wing in practice, and showed me what it’s like in the weight room. All the guys in there are super excited, and they showed me what it’s like to play really high level.”
Also factoring into the decision was location. Caldwell, where the College of Idaho is located, is near where Winter’s mom played and once held the all-time shot-blocking record at Boise State. “So super excited to be in Idaho and my mom is super excited to come back there,” Winter said. “My family’s used to traveling there, so they’re all super excited that we’re getting back to Idaho.”
Winter knows he still has some work to do to be ready for the college level and noted his focus will be on getting stronger as well as improving his movement. The shot-blocking big man has continued to show that development so far this season and while he’s currently out due to injury, he’s aiming to come back stronger than ever and help the Beavers reach some of their goals.
“I flt like we were doing good,” Winter said. “We were on a roll there in the LSI, playing really good teams and in the Capitol City Classic we saw a lot of really good competition. I felt like I was playing pretty well, battling some sickness, but then got over that at the Capital City, then unfortunately went out there and broke the hand. But I’m looking to come back and make a big season at the end. We’re capable of a lot and we’re going to try to make a run of state championship.”
Winter currently ranks as the #21 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2024 rankings. We would like to send our congratulations to him and his family on his commitment.