SB Nation
  • Google+

SB Nation Boston

Stay connected for news and updates

College Basketball Updates: UConn Loses Three, Lands Holy Cross Transfer

Jeremy Lamb is leaving UConn after two years with the school to enter the 2012 NBA Draft. During his two seasons, Lamb won a national championship and scored 1,060 points.

  • Live
7 Total Updates since April 10, 2012
  • Important 3
  • Updates 5
  • Articles 2
  • All Updates 7

UConn Lands Holy Cross Transfer R.J. Evans

While the exodus continued in Storrs Friday with Alex Oriakhi officially transferring to Missouri, it's not all bad news for Huskies fans. Holy Cross junior R.J. Evans officially committed to UConn and will be eligible immediately because he is graduating this spring.

The junior guard finished second on the Crusaders in scoring with 11.5 points per game and was third in rebounding at 4.8 rebounds per game. He started and played in 28 of the team's 29 games and knocked down 47.7 percent of his shots, while leading the team in steals with 49.

Evans told the Hartford Courant, "Growing up in Connecticut, it's every kid's dream to play for UConn," said Evans. "I've been given this opportunity and I want to make the most of it. … Just try to help win some games."

The Salem, Connecticut native is capable of playing as a shooting guard or small forward and not only brings a great overall skill set but is noted for his leadership and competitiveness according to the Holy Cross Athletics website.

He will be the lone senior on a Huskies squad that is ineligible for postseason play because of NCAA violations.

Earlier Friday, sophomore forward Michael Bradley asked for his release to transfer, after seeing no playing time with the school. With Bradley's departure and the addition of Evans, Jim Calhoun still has three scholarships to fill for next season.


Continue

Former UConn Forward Alex Oriakhi Transferring To Missouri

After spending three seasons in Storrs, Alex Oriakhi will take his skills to Missouri to team-up with former teammate Phil Pressey. The Tigers announced the Lowell native would officially transfer to Missouri in a release Friday afternoon.

Oriakhi will be eligible to play for the Tigers immediately because UConn is ineligible for the postseason due to a NCAA violations. The talented forward averaged 7.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in 109 games with the Huskies, including 9.6 points and 8.7 rebounds his sophomore season when UConn won the National Championship.

He should have a chance to make an immediate impact for the Tigers who are losing their top two forwards from a team that went 30-5 and earned a two seed in the NCAA Tournament. With seniors Ricardo Ratliffe (35 starts) and Steven Moore (16.1 minutes per game), leaving Oriakhi will compete for a starting spot with several other new players head coach Frank Haith is bringing for the 2012-13 season.

In the statement released on mutigers.com, Haith had this to say about Oriakhi:

"We're very excited to add a talented and proven player like Alex to our program," said Haith. "Addressing our front court depth has been a major emphasis of ours for this next year, and when you add Alex to a group of newcomers including Stefan Jankovic, Ryan Rosburg and Tony Criswell, we are definitely heading the right direction. Alex is a very hard worker, he's somebody who we expect to fit into our program's culture right away. He will do whatever he's asked to help the team, and he can impact a game any number of ways, whether it's scoring, rebounding or defending," Haith said.

Oriakhi was also being pursued by Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina and Xavier but the allure of starting and playing with Pressey, the team's point guard, who played with Oriakhi in youth basketball in Boston was enough to send him to Missouri.

WIth Oriakhi transferring and freshmen forward Andre Drummond declaring for the NBA Draft Thursday, UConn will have to rely on sophomore forwards Tyler Olander and Roscoe Smith and freshmen DeAndre Daniels. The trio combined for just 35 starts on the year and none of the players averaged more than 4.4 points or 3.9 rebounds per game.

Continue

UConn Freshmen Andre Drummond To Enter NBA Draft

UConn freshmen forward Andre Drummond will reportedly declare for the NBA Draft Thursday afternoon according to multiple outlets including the Hartford Courant and New Haven Register. The 6'10" Middletown, Connecticut native becomes the second Husky to declare this week, joining sophomore Jeremy Lamb, and the first every UConn player to leave for the NBA after just one season in Storrs.

As a freshman, Drummond averaged 10 points and a team-leading 7.6 rebounds per game while playing in all 34 games. Drummond started 28 games for Jim Calhoun this season and was named a Big East All-Rookie Team member.

While he struggled to make an instant impact in Storrs, Drummond did show some flashes of potential greatness, including a 20 point, 11 rebound affair against West Virginia. Drummond is projected to be picked among the top five slots in the 2012 Draft according to ESPN.com and and NBADraft.net.

Continue