The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Photo by: Ken Shepherd
UAB Men’s Basketball Adds JUCO Guard Ari Gooch
4/18/2025 12:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – UAB men's basketball coach Andy Kennedy announced the addition of JUCO guard Ari Gooch on Friday afternoon.
"Ari is a testament to how playing hard and making plays garners attention! His athleticism and play-making ability jumped out at us while playing alongside his teammate and future Blazer Evan Chatman. Ari is a talented player who we are excited about having in our program."
The Minneapolis native averaged 14.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game last season at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas last season.
He took another step in conference play, upping his numbers to 18.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 55.9 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three. He was named the Freshman of the Year in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference and earned First Team honors.
Gooch scored a season high 31 points against Ranger College before matching it a week later against Collin County. He scored 20+ points in seven games during his freshman season.
He and fellow UAB signee Evan Chatman led McLennan to a 27-6 record and an appearance in the Region V Championship game.
The 6'2" guard averaged 18 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game as a senior at Park Center in Minneapolis, earning All-Conference Honors.
Gooch joins Evan Chatman and Dayjaun Anderson as the Blazers' JUCO signees for the 2025 class, joining high school signees Lance Carr and Salim London along with DePaul transfer Jacob Meyer.
BLAZER BOOSTERS
As we launch into the 2025 giving year, we encourage you to further your support across UAB Athletics and help the Blazers reach new heights in the American Athletic Conference. For more information on ways to show your generosity to Blazer student athletes through the Blazer Scholarship Fund, capital initiatives, and sport specific giving go to blazerboosters.com or call us at (205) 996-9969.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
"Ari is a testament to how playing hard and making plays garners attention! His athleticism and play-making ability jumped out at us while playing alongside his teammate and future Blazer Evan Chatman. Ari is a talented player who we are excited about having in our program."
The Minneapolis native averaged 14.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game last season at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas last season.
He took another step in conference play, upping his numbers to 18.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 55.9 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three. He was named the Freshman of the Year in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference and earned First Team honors.
Gooch scored a season high 31 points against Ranger College before matching it a week later against Collin County. He scored 20+ points in seven games during his freshman season.
He and fellow UAB signee Evan Chatman led McLennan to a 27-6 record and an appearance in the Region V Championship game.
The 6'2" guard averaged 18 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game as a senior at Park Center in Minneapolis, earning All-Conference Honors.
Gooch joins Evan Chatman and Dayjaun Anderson as the Blazers' JUCO signees for the 2025 class, joining high school signees Lance Carr and Salim London along with DePaul transfer Jacob Meyer.
BLAZER BOOSTERS
As we launch into the 2025 giving year, we encourage you to further your support across UAB Athletics and help the Blazers reach new heights in the American Athletic Conference. For more information on ways to show your generosity to Blazer student athletes through the Blazer Scholarship Fund, capital initiatives, and sport specific giving go to blazerboosters.com or call us at (205) 996-9969.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
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