According to a report by the Connecticut Post, Alex
Oriakhi plans to transfer from UConn.
“Alex will transfer because of the NCAA tournament next
year,” Oriakhi’s father, Alex, Sr., told the Post.
That’s news to Angela Oriakhi, Alex’s mother.
“I don’t know where he’s getting that from,” she said on
Wednesday afternoon. “I have to talk to my son. Whatever he wants to do is what
I’m going to stand by.”
The Post said that Oriakhi informed the UConn coaching
staff and new athletic director Warde Manuel on Wednesday afternoon that he
will be transferring. A UConn official contacted by the Register wasn’t aware
of the decision. Attempts to reach members of the coaching staff were
unsuccessful.
UConn is currently barred from participating in the 2013
NCAA tournament (or any postseason tournament) due to poor APR scores in recent
years. That could change, pending appeal or changes in the Committee on
Academic Performance’s current APR schedule.
If it doesn’t change, Oriakhi, a junior, can transfer to
any school without sitting out a season. Any player entering his final season
of eligibility can transfer without sitting out a year if his team is banned
from postseason play, per NCAA rules.
Oriakhi had an extremely disappointing season this year.
After averaging nearly 10 points and nine rebounds a game two years ago, his
averages dipped to 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds a contest this season. Oriakhi,
a 6-foot-9 forward/center, never really meshed with 6-10 freshman center Andre
Drummond.
In UConn’s season-ending loss to Iowa State Thursday
night, Oriakhi had just two points and three rebounds in 23 minutes and endured
coach Jim Calhoun’s wrath on the bench for much of the contest.
“Next (expletive) jump shot by a 6-5 guy, get out of the
gym!” Calhoun yelled at him at one point.
The prior week, Angela Oriakhi said that Oriakhi “loves
Calhoun to death” and that he wasn’t planning on going anywhere else.
On Wednesday, Angela said she had yet to talk to Alex
about whether or not he was transferring
“Whatever he wants to do, I’m going to support him,”
Angela Oriakhi said.
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