MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University basketball coach Bob Huggins announced Monday that center Aaric Murray is no longer with the program.
The 6-foot-10 Murray, a transfer from LaSalle, spent time in Huggins’ doghouse early last season. He averaged 8.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game but was relegated to a reserve role late in the season and frequently found his playing time limited by foul trouble.
“We came to a mutual agreement that it would be in his best interest to finish his collegiate career somewhere else,” said Huggins.
Murray drew Huggins’ ire for failing to play with max effort at times. He was left on campus when the Mountaineers lost 81-66 to Michigan in Brooklyn.
“I mean, honestly, did we miss him? I don’t think we did,” Huggins said after that game at Barclays Center. “And if he doesn’t do right in the future, we’re not going to miss him then either.
“I’ve left guys home who were way, way, way better than Aaric Murray. I’ve sent a couple guys home after we got (to road games) that are way, way, way better than Aaric Murray.
After Murray sat out the 2011-12 season as a transfer, he was pitched by Huggins as a one-and-done player who would turn pro—whether in the NBA or overseas—after a single season at WVU. But Murray stated his desire to return last spring and subsequently tweeted throughout April and May his plans to play next season for the Mountaineers.
Because Murray graduated in May, he is eligible to transfer again and play his final season at another Division I program.