Altman up for coach award

Oregon coach Dana Altman shouts instructions during the first half of an NCAA tournament college basketball game against Oklahoma State in the Round of 64 in Omaha, Neb., Friday, March 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

(Nati Harnik)

UPDATE: Chris Boucher commits to Oregon basketball

NJCAA national player of the year Chris Boucher is in Eugene for a weekend visit with the University of Oregon basketball program, and according to Northwest College coach Brian Erickson he is leaning toward a commitment to the Ducks over fellow finalists Texas Tech and TCU.

"I've spoken to him a little bit, and I think it depends on how comfortable he feels on the visit. I think he really likes them," he said. "I wouldn't be willing to say he's committed yet. ... I think it's leaning in that direction, but I think it's going to come down to how (Friday) goes and his comfortability."

That sentiment matches what has also been reported by The Powell Tribune's Joe Alberico:

Last season, Boucher averaged 22.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.7 blocks and shot 58.0 percent for the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range for Northwest College (Wyoming).

Those numbers earned the 6-foot-10 athlete the honor of NJCAA national player of the year and a four-star recruiting rating by 247Sports.

Erickson said Boucher's diverse, raw game would make him an intriguing addition for a major conference college program.

"He's 6-foot-10, real skinny, but a versatile guy that can really run the floor well. He can step out and shoot from the perimeter," he said. "Defensively, he's got to be one of the best I've seen timing shots. He averaged about five blocked shots per game, but the amount of shots that he's changed, there's no stat for that. He can change a game on both ends because of what he does."

Given his ability to protect the rim and shoot from three-point range, Erickson believes his prized pupil could develop into an NBA player in the coming years.

"I see a ton of potential. This is only his fourth year ever playing basketball competitively," he said. "I believe he's still a little bit raw facing up, his face-up game. He has a face-up game and a little bit of a post game, but it's about him feeling a little more comfortable, more confident. I believe in two years he's got a great chance to be in the NBA."

Oregon's recruiting class is ranked No. 15 in the nation by Rivals and consists of five-star shooting guard Tyler Dorsey, four-star power forward Trevor Manuel and four-star point guard Kendall Small. Adding Boucher to the mix could catapult Oregon to a top 10 recruiting class nationally, and that doesn't take into account the addition of impact Villanova transfer Dylan Ennis.

Boucher's commitment would also represent another connection of the Oregon-Canada pipeline that has developed under Oregon coach Dana Altman, which has previously netted Ennis, Dillon Brooks, Jason Calliste, Devoe Joseph and others.

The recruiting process appears to be coming to an end for Boucher, and if this weekend goes well for the Ducks, they could be adding yet another four-star recruit into the mix.

-- Andrew Nemec

anemec@oregonian.com

@AndrewNemec