Meet the Transfers: BYU’s Chase Fischer

Jan 19, 2013; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Chase Fischer (10) handles the ball against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Cassell Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

With the type of players BYU possesses on its roster for next season, the Cougars could end up being one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the nation. Tyler Haws’s 3-point shot has steadily improved since he returned from his mission, Skylar Halford – while inconsistent – can certainly sling it from deep, Anson Winder and Frank Bartley IV can both hit the long ball when open and many of the newcomers – particularly Jake Toolson and Dalton Nixon – have been advertised as great 3-point shooters.

There is one player that was not mentioned that will add yet another dead-eye 3-pointer shooter to that group. That player is Chase Fischer, a Wake Forest transfer that can shoot the ball with the best of them.

At Wake Forest

Coming out of high school, Fischer was a consensus three-star prospect out of Ripley High School in Ripley, West W.Va. Fischer was initially committed to Marshall, but a coaching change inspired him to open up his recruitment. After being courted by a number of different schools in the ACC and the Big East, Fischer chose Wake Forest.

As a Deamon Deacon, Fischer played in all 62 games and made six starts. As a freshman, Fischer played 26.2 minutes per game and that number decreased to 14.1 minutes per game by the time his sophomore season rolled around. He averaged 6.3 and 4.5 points respectively in his freshman and sophomore seasons. His sophomore year he was a team captain and shot an efficient 42 percent from beyond the arc.

Mark Pope, who was assistant at Wake Forest from 2010-2011 and has been an assistant at BYU ever since, was the coach who helped bring Fischer to Winston-Salem. Pope’s presence on the staff certainly played a factor into his transfer to BYU, picking the Cougars over Valpraiso, Florida Gulf Coast, Ball State and Wofford.

Impact at BYU

As mentioned before, Fischer will provide the Cougars a deadly presence from beyond the arc. He can do other things besides shoot, but that is the aspect of his game that really stands out.

With Kyle Collinsworth potentially out for a bit in the early stages of the season, it would help the Cougars out immensely if Fischer contributed as a primary ball-handler for the Cougars until Collinsworth returns to full health.

Bottom line, Fischer gives BYU a presence from behind the arc they haven’t consistently had for quite a while. His presence on the court will open up things for Haws and Collinsworth to operate in the heart of defense, something that will benefit the Cougars offense greatly.