 |
 |
|
| | Tuesday, January 4 | |||||
ESPN.com | ||||||
| Brigham Young missed out on its top two targeted recruits last season, but the
Cougars could end up with both of them on the floor next season after each bolted from their current schools Wednesday.
Trent Whiting, a 6-1 point guard, transferred from Utah to Brigham
Young while 6-8 forward Nate Knight left Kentucky for his home in Utah, at
least for the immediate future. Knight could land at BYU because the Cougars
may be the only school willing to take him for one semester.
Knight is a triple transfer, after starting his career at Oregon State. He lasted one season (starting nine games) before going on a Mormon Church mission for one season. But because he went for only one of the two years normally required for a mission, that season automatically counted as his redshirt year. Knight then went to Utah Valley State last season (as a sophomore in eligibility) before choosing Kentucky over BYU for his junior season. Knight, whose playing time was reduced with the inspired play of senior Jamaal Magloire and the quick development of freshman Marvin Stone, appeared in nine of 12 games. He averaged only 1.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 8.7 minutes a game. BYU had not been contacted by Knight as of Tuesday night. The Cougars signed four inside players for next season but probably would take Knight for one semester. Meanwhile, Whiting also faces the strong possibility of playing just one semester because he transferred within the Mountain West Conference. BYU coach Steve Cleveland said Whiting will challenge the rule, but according to Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson, there isn't anything in the rules to suggest Whiting will win such an appeal.When players transfer within the conference, they forfeit a year of eligibility along with having to sit out a season, Thompson said. The rule was adopted when the league was formed last year. "There are no mechanisms for a waiver," Thompson said. "You can't do it. He's down to one semester."That means although Whiting has a redshirt season available, league rules prohibit him from using it. Instead of being a fourth-year junior when he is slated to become eligible at the beginning of the second semester next season, he'll be a fifth-year senior with just one semester left. Whiting could have used this season as a redshirt year because of a leg injury suffered during the preseason. He was slated to start at the point for the Utes, but injuries kept him out of practice. Utah coach Rick Majerus went with senior swing guard Tony Harvey at the point, with sophomore Gary Colbert as his backup. Whiting played in only five games, averaging five points, three rebounds and one assist. He told Utah reporters that practices were too hard on him. Majerus told ESPN.com that he tried to help Whiting as much as possible, even to the point of bringing in a renowned doctor from Santa Barbara to look at his injuries. But Whiting wanted to go to BYU. In fact, Cleveland said he told Whiting that he should transfer to Utah State, Boise State or Weber State, where his wife, Amber, is a member of the women's basketball team. But Whiting said he wanted to attend BYU, even if it meant playing only one semester. Cleveland said Whiting told him his wife will transfer with him and play for BYU's women's team. Cleveland said Whiting registered for classes Tuesday at BYU. Whiting won't receive a scholarship because of Mountain West transfer rules. "This one is free," Cleveland said of not needing to use a scholarship for Whiting. "But he could be with us for 21 games next season after the first semester. That's pretty good for us. We should be really good next season."The Cougars are 9-2 and a surprise team in the MWC, with their only losses coming at the hands of Arizona and South Alabama.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
| ALSO SEE Daily Word: Williams waits at Oklahoma State Weekly Watch: Rushing to judgment | |||||