Auburn Basketball: Chance Westry showing he belongs in Tigers rotation

Auburn basketball’s recent tour of Israel showed that the Tigers will be one of the tougher defensive teams in the SEC. Here we take a look at 6-foot-6 freshman wing Chance Westry’s debut, a player that should contribute mightily to their defensive success.

Auburn Basketball went 2-1 in their exhibition tour in the nation of Israel. While freshman Yohan Traore was one first-year name that stood out, former AZ Compass Prep star Chance Westry also stood out in a big way, especially on the defensive end. In his first showing in an Auburn uniform, he racked up 13 steals across their first two victories while showing off his ability to be a pest on the defensive side of the ball.

Westry is emerging as quite the on-ball defender for the Tigers in the early going. Through two exhibition games in Israel, he’s averaging 6.5 spg including seven in their recently televised victory over the Israeli Select All-Star team. His energy was contagious and a big part of their run to close out the first half that saw them balloon their lead to double-digits before halftime.

He showed he could defend for 90 feet and make things difficult for opposing players in key moments for the Tigers. As they look to make another run in the NCAA Tournament, Bruce Pearl certainly has plenty to smile about heading into the 2022-23 season following their foreign tour.

Westry also finished the game with 18 points, showing off his ability to attack the rim and knock down shots on the perimeter and off the bounce.

Scoring-wise, Westry averaged 15.5 ppg across their first two victories. In their first victory, he went for 13 points on 80 percent shooting from the field.

KD Johnson and Wendell Green Jr. are both back in the Auburn backcourt, if they can find a role for Westry with his length and ability at 6-foot-6 on the wing, they should be a lethal squad, especially on the defensive end of the ball.

Westry is capable of defending the 1-3 position and in some rotations, the 4-spot given his length, athleticism and fearlessness in the paint. While many fans fell in love with Yohan Traore’s contributions, Westry’s tenacity on defense should also keep fans tuned in this season.