University of Evansville basketball coach Marty Simmons announced today that Bryan Bouchie (pronounced ‘Boo-she’) will transfer from Valparaiso University to UE. The 6-10, 245-pound Bouchie will have three years of eligibility with the Purple Aces, beginning with the 2009-10 season.

As a freshman at Valparaiso this past season, he played in all 36 games and averaged 7.0 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 51 percent from the floor for the 22-14 Crusaders. Bouchie totaled eight points, five rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes to help Valpo defeat Evansville on Dec. 11, 75-67. He totaled 20 points in Valpo’s 72-71 post-season victory at Washington in the first round of the inaugural College Basketball Invitational March 19. Bouchie scored a season-high 23 points in a November 23 win over Maryland Eastern Shore.

“Bryan has a chance to be a really good player for us,” Simmons said. “He’s a 6-10 guy who runs the floor well. He has very good hands, he can score in a variety of ways, and he’s a winner.”

Bouchie is from Washington, Ind., and helped lead Washington High School to the 3A state championship in 2005. He averaged 15.3 points and 8.4 rebounds as a junior, and 15.9 points and 7.8 rebounds as a senior. The Hatchets were 65-12 during his prep career, winning three consecutive sectional championships and two Big 8 Conference titles. Bouchie played on the Indiana All-Star team last June.

“I’m coming to Evansville because I like the people and the coaches,” Bouchie said. “I’m excited about getting down there and getting started. We’re definitely going to win in the next few years at Evansville.”

The addition of Bouchie gives Simmons and his staff their fifth and final recruit. The other four will be eligible immediately. They include Kaylon Williams, a 6-4 guard from Cedar Rapids, Iowa; James Haarsma, a 6-7 forward from Kenosha, Wisconsin; C.J. Erickson, a 6-6 forward from Excelsior, Minnesota and Denver Holmes, a 6-4 guard from Olathe, Kansas.

Simmons just completed his first season as head coach at Evansville. He was a two-time all-conference player for the Purple Aces, in 1987 and 1988, and later returned for 11 seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, helping lead the Aces to NCAA Tournament appearances in 1992, 1993 and 1999.