By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 11, 2011
As expected, USF announced Monday that sophomore guard Mike Burwell, who averaged 1.7 points per game, requested and has been granted a release to transfer from the Bulls, along with junior point guard Shedrick Haynes.
USF coach Stan Heath has known of the departures long enough that both scholarships are already spoken for, as USF has gotten recent commitments from junior college combo guard Blake Nash and prep point guard Anthony Collins.
Burwell stepped up in nonconference play when point guard Anthony Crater was injured, playing 44 minutes in USF's 77-75 overtime loss to BYU, getting nine points, four rebounds and four assists. But once Crater was healthy, Burwell didn't play significant minutes -- he totaled 14 points in 20 Big East games. He'll have two years of eligibility remaining after he sits out the upcoming season wherever he chooses to transfer.
Haynes, whose departure was previously reported, played even less than Burwell, averaging 1.1 points per game. Haynes totaled just seven points in Big East play, his only assists in conference games coming in the season finale after Crater had injured his shoulder.
With Burwell and Haynes, USF has had 12 scholarship players transfer out in the four years since Heath was hired -- eight played Division I basketball at other schools last season.
While junior forward Augustus Gilchrist is exploring the possibility of entering the NBA Draft, USF is likely finished recruiting for the 2011-12 cycle, with all scholarships currently accounted for. The Bulls will have senior Anthony Crater, sophomores Blake Nash and LaVonte Dority and freshman Anthony Collins at point guard; sophomore Vic Rudd, juniors Jawanza Poland and Shaun Noriega, senior Hugh Robertson at shooting guard/small forward; Gilchrist, junior Toarlyn Fitzpatrick and senior Ron Anderson at power forward; and junior Andre Jackson and freshman Jordan Omogbehin at center.