Seawolves sign former Sun Devil

But this season's Seawolves will include Taylor Rohde, a 6-foot-8 forward who played in 30 games with Arizona State a year ago when the Sun Devils finished 22-11 as the conference runners-up.

UAA has had several Division I basketball transfers, largely from mid-major programs, said Nate Sagan, UAA sports information director. Rohde is the first from a Pac 10 school.

"We're overjoyed," said UAA coach Rusty Osborne. "With our lack of depth at the end of last year, Taylor fills a huge need for us in the front court. He brings Pac-10 experience and can play both the power forward and center positions."

The tallest player on UAA's roster this season is 6-foot-10 sophomore Liam Gibcus of Lysterfield, Australia, who averaged 3.9 points and 2.3 rebounds while playing all 27 games last season. Former South High big man Aaron Stevens is 6-8 and showed nice hops and flashes of energetic play last season.

"We understand as a junior, (Rohde) needs to challenge for that (starting center) spot," Osborne said. "If Taylor starts, we know we have a great backup in Liam, and if Liam starts, we know we have a great backup in Taylor."

A 235-pound forward, Rohde comes to UAA after two seasons at Arizona State. The biological sciences major averaged 2.2 points and 1.2 rebounds while shooting 53 percent from the field last season.

His high school numbers at Arizona's Pinnacle High School are much more impressive. As a senior, Rohde averaged 29.5 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 63 percent from the field. In 2008, he was named the Gatorade Arizona Player of the Year and was a McDonald's All-America nominee.

"Although not a shot-blocker, he will give us another great defensive player," said Osborne. "We also feel that in our system he will have a chance to be very good offensively and take some pressure off our perimeter shooters."

In April, Rohde, the Sun Devils' top post reserve last season, informed Arizona State Coach Herb Sendek he intended to transfer.

"I think the biggest factor was the chance to play a little bit bigger role," Osborne said. "And he'd like the team to have success."

Offers came from a range of schools -- Division I, Divsion II and NAIA programs.

"He wanted to find the best fit," Osborne said.

UAA beat out Division I school University of California-Davis for Rohde, according to Arizona Republic reporter Doug Haller's blog on Pac-10 basketball. UC Santa Barbara and South Carolina Division II school Francis Marion also expressed interest, according to Haller.

UAA assistant coach Ryan Horton made the initial contact with Rohde, according to Osborne, and the coaches double-teamed the big man during his visit to the Anchorage campus.

"He had a magnificent high school career and was a solid contributor on an elite Pac-10 team. But from our first conversation, he has stressed the fact that he wants team success over individual," Osborne said. "He is a quality individual both on and off the court."

And apparently, Rohde can take care of himself in the paint.

Two years ago, the East Valley Tribune in Arizona reported that starting senior Arizona State forward Jeff Pendergraph was "getting beat up in practice by 6-foot-8, 225-pound freshman Taylor Rohde. "This is not terribly surprising to us," the Tribune said, "since Pendergraph is not one to take it easy in a game or in practice.

"Rohde has apparently delivered a number of blows including a black eye from an errant elbow and a bruised back from landing on him."

And guess who's coming to the Carrs Safeway Great Alaska Shootout in November? You got it, Arizona State.

If the Sun Devils beat Houston Baptist and UAA topples Weber State in the opening round, Rohde will have a chance to play his former teammates in a semifinal.