Two years is a long time to go without anything, especially playing a sport.
To make a comeback would take a lot of hard work to not only re-develop skill, but to get in shape to play at a high level.
This is ASU freshman center Jordan Bachynski’s challenge.
The 7-foot-2-inch Canadian served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following high school. Now he has had to shake off the rust and return to basketball, while learning an entirely new offensive and defensive system.
“It is two years taking off basketball, it is going to have an effect on my game,” Bachynski said. “You can either take it in a good way or a bad way.”
It has been a slow development process, but one that certainly was expected. Former NBA big man Shawn Bradley warned Bachynski that it wasn’t going to be easy returning to the game after being away for that long.
“I think the best piece of advice he gave me was to keep perspective,” Bachynski said of Bradley. “It was like learning basketball almost all over again. I have to break old habits that aren’t good and form new good habits. It isn’t going to happen in a day.”
Bachynski is 21 years old, not the typical age of a college freshman. He uses that to his advantage.
He is used to living on his own and being away from home, and Bachynski recently even got engaged to ASU volleyball player Malia Marquardt.
“I’m a 21-year-old freshman,” Bachynski said. “My body is more mature, my mind is more mature. I can learn things faster and I don’t have immaturity to deal with. I don’t have a lot of the distractions that kids just moving out of the house have.
“I have lived on my own the last two years. That isn’t a worry on my mind.”
The biggest thing holding Bachynski back is his conditioning. He will admit that he can’t play 20 to 25 minutes per game because his legs aren’t fully back into basketball shape.
“I feel I am close,” Bachynski said. “My legs aren’t back yet, but I feel they are pretty close.”
If he was the age of the average freshman, he probably would have redshirted this season, but because of his age, he wasn’t, and now slowly, Bachynski is becoming more and more involved in the ASU rotation.
On Saturday against Washington, he scored seven points off the bench.
With ASU’s post play struggling this season, more contributions from Bachynski would go a long way, and with his playing time inconsistent, he welcomes more of a role.
“I think one of the main lessons I have learned is to be ready, no matter what,” Bachynski said. “No matter how much I have played in the past, I always have to be ready for the time when coach needs me.”
At his height, you don’t normally find players with his footwork and athletic ability. Often footwork is a struggle for college centers.
Skill-wise, he is already further ahead than many at his position.
“To be 7-foot, it's hard to be coordinated," Bachynski said. "I see a lot of 7-footers who can barely run up and down the court. They just look awkward running. I could be wrong, but I don't feel like I look awkward.
“I feel like I'm pretty coordinated and being able to alter or block shots is just as important as anything else. Stopping two points is just as important as getting two points.”
As his conditioning improves and his knowledge of the offense and defense improves, Bachynski may start to realize his potential.
And for an ASU team that needs a spark, a 21-year-old freshman may provide it.
“I have to keep chopping wood everyday and not let up,” Bachynski said. “I feel I am getting it better and getting a better grasp on the whole offensive and defensive system that Coach Sendek runs. The most important thing I need to remember is that it is a team. I have to be willing to play any role they need me to play.”
Reach the reporter at andrew.gruman@asu.edu