Freshman Guard Legion to Transfer out of UK

[UK5]

Kentucky freshman guard Alex Legion wants to transfer and informed coach Billy Gillispie of his decision on Monday night.

"It's unfortunate and not what I wanted to hear, but I understand," Gillispie said, according a statement released by the school.

"We met with Alex and his mother Friday, and she informed us of her desire to seek a release for her son. Shortly after that meeting, Alex told me that he still wanted to be a part of our program. He played in the game against North Carolina Saturday and seemed happy when I spoke with him Sunday."

On the way back from the funeral services for former Wildcats greats Ralph Beard and Tommy Kron, Gillispie learned that Legion had not attended Monday afternoon's practice. Legion told him of his decision later that evening.

"You always hate to lose a valued member of your program, and Alex was definitely that. He has tremendous potential as a player and a student, but most importantly, he is a wonderful young man. We hate to see him leave, but if he can be happier elsewhere then all you can do is wish him the best."

Legion has played in all six games this season, starting twice. He averaged 6.7 points per game.

Legion, a native of Inkster, Mich., originally signed with Michigan but was released from his national letter of intent when Tommy Amaker was fired by the school.

[Glory_Days]

that boys has changed schools a bunch

[bishop4uk]

don't understand why he's transfering cause he has played in all 6 games so far and probably been a starter next yr.

[1inStripes]

-- Alex Legion, a 6-foot-5 guard who decided early this week to transfer from Kentucky, is reconsidering his decision and may return to the school, according to a source close to Legion.
The source said Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie would be open to Legion returning.







Legion informed Gillispie on Monday night he wanted to transfer, the school said.
"We met with Alex and his mother Friday, and she informed us of her desire to seek a release for her son," Gillispie said Tuesday. "Shortly after that meeting, Alex told me that he still wanted to be a part of our program. He played in the game against North Carolina Saturday and seemed happy when I spoke with him Sunday."
Legion did not attend practice on Monday and met with Gillispie on Monday night after the coach returned to campus from funeral services for Kentucky greats Ralph Beard and Tommy Kron. Legion's name has been removed from the Kentucky roster on the official Kentucky athletics website.
When announcing the transfer Tuesday, Gillispie said, "You always hate to lose a valued member of your program, and Alex was definitely that. He has tremendous potential as a player and a student, but most importantly, he is a wonderful young man. We hate to see him leave, but if he can be happier elsewhere then all you can do is wish him the best."
Legion, one of two high-profile freshmen Gillispie brought to Kentucky in his first year, is averaging 6.7 points and 17.5 minutes per game. He has two starts for the Wildcats, who are 4-2 on the season.

[NotSoSilentBob]

Sounds like the kid is [censored] in the head.

[bishop4uk]

Legion might remain with UK
Mom says he may not transfer after all


Alex Legion may bring new meaning to the basketball term crossover. A day after being granted permission to transfer, the freshman might decide to return to Kentucky's team.

"The last 24 hours they've been working on my son,"? the player's mother, Annette Legion, said last night.

She likened her son's second thoughts to someone not realizing what they have till it's gone.

"It's like a divorce,"? Mrs. Legion said. "You don't know how valuable that person is till you're divorced. When you're married, you couldn't see it."?

The player's mother said she heard from two people (one from their home state of Michigan) about the possibility of her son coming to an understanding with UK Coach Billy Gillispie. She had not heard directly from her son.

"I'm told Billy and he have worked out their differences,"? Annette Legion said. "If that's true, I will support him. I don't have a problem if he goes back. He's the one that's doing the hardship. He's the one doing the workouts."?

Quoting a source close to Legion, Seth Davis of CNNSI.com first wrote that the player was reconsidering the transfer.

On Monday night, UK announced that Legion would transfer. The announcement came hours after Gillispie spoke of trying to convince the player to stay.

"You always hate to lose a valued member of your program, and Alex was definitely that,"? Gillispie said in the news release Monday night. "He has tremendous potential as a player and a student,

but most importantly, he is a wonderful young man. We hate to see him leave, but if he can be happier elsewhere then all you can do is wish him the best."?

Legion had started twice and played in all six UK games. He averaged 6.7 points in 17-plus minutes per game.

In talking with reporters after his radio show, Gillispie noted that such mid-year transfers had never happened in his head coaching career.

"Hopefully it won't happen now,"? the UK coach added.

Whenever a player decides to transfer, speculation centers on playing time. Legion did not enter the game against North Carolina on Saturday until the 11:07 mark of the second half. That after fans chanted his name.

Boos filled Rupp Arena when Gillispie took Legion out of the game 22 seconds later. But after giving him instruction, the UK coach returned Legion to the game at the 9:21 mark.

Legion played a season-low six minutes and scored seven points against North Carolina.

His mother said playing time was not the problem. "It has nothing to do with basketball,"? she said.

When asked how Legion was progressing, Gillispie said, "He's done great. Sure. He's doing great."?

If Legion transfers, he would have to sit out a year at his new school, but he would not face the same loss of a year's eligibility that led Joe Crawford to reluctantly return to Kentucky in the middle of his freshman season.

Crawford faced the extra penalty because he signed a national letter of intent to play for Kentucky, which requires a player to stay at a school a full academic year before transferring, UK compliance officer Sandy Bell said.

Legion originally signed with Michigan. So he did not sign a letter of intent with Kentucky and would be free to transfer without the loss of a year of eligibility, Bell said.


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