Another Gophers basketball player is leaving.
The Gophers announced Monday, hours before their game with North Dakota, that freshman forward Josh Martin will transfer out of the University of Minnesota immediately.
“While we are disappointed in Josh’s decision to transfer, we wish him nothing but the best in the future,” coach Richard Pitino said in a statement Monday evening.
His departure leaves the Gophers with just nine scholarship players until the end of the semester.
The Star Tribune notes Martin’s departure means that since the summer, four players have unexpectedly been dropped from the team.
- International freshman big man Gaston Diedhiou was denied by the university’s Office of Admission. He could be admitted in January.
- Just before the start of the regular season, transfer guard Zach Lofton was kicked off the team for failing to meet expectations.
- Two weeks ago Daquein McNeil was arrested on two counts of felony assault and was suspended.
Martin averaged 1.3 points and one rebound in just over five minutes per game so far this season. According to The Daily Gopher, he was expected to be the backup to Joey King at power forward, but Charles Buggs had passed him in Pitino’s rotation.
That was quick. #Gophers press release announces that PF Josh Martin is transferring. Might need to have another round of walk-on tryouts.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) December 9, 2014
Martin’s decision to transfer leaves him with 3.5 years of eligibility.
FOX Sports Net reports Martin, a native of Seattle, was a high school teammate of Timberwolves rookie Zach LaVine. He reportedly chose Minnesota over Florida State, Oklahoma State and Pitt.
