Rule Commits To Hardin-Simmons

ABILENE, Texas — Zach Rule, a 6-4 forward from Abilene Wylie, has committed to attend Hardin-Simmons University and play for the men’s basketball team.

Rule was a standout for coach Russell Perkins’ Bulldogs and he was named the co-MVP of district 2-3A. He was also voted to the TABC all-region team. The Abilene Reporter News named him the 3A player of the year as a junior and he will be a top contender for that award again this season.

As a senior, he averaged 13.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 52 percent from the floor and 35 percent from 3-point range. Wylie went undefeated to win district 2-3A and they finished the year with a 26-6 record.

“HSU was close to home and I really like Coach (Craig) Carse and Coach (Zach) Pickelman and the atmosphere around Hardin-Simmons,” said Rule. “I think my game fits into the style that Coach Carse wants to run. As a four man, he says I will be a runner and a shooter and for my size I can run and shoot the ball pretty well, so it felt like a good fit for me.”

“I just want to be the best player I can be and help this program become as good as it can be.”

Carse believes that Rule will have an immediate impact on the program.

“Zach is a very talented player, who fits the mold of the type of player we are looking for. He is a big, strong kid that can shoot the ball. We expect for him to come in here and be an immediate impact player for us,” said Carse.

“Zach is a good kid that comes from a strong family background. He is a solid student and he played for a good high school coach in coach Perkins. We think he will bring a lot to our program not only as a player, but as a person as well. He is the type of player we are looking to build this program with.”

Hardin-Simmons is coming off a 9-16 season in Carse’s first season with the program and HSU loses four seniors from this year’s team.

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