On Tuesday, the UA announced that highly touted but seldom deployed freshman forward Craig Victor left the Arizona men’s basketball program and will transfer.
“We wish Craig Victor and his family well,” UA head coach Sean Miller said in a press release.
Victor played in eight games for the Wildcats this year (13-1, 1-0 Pac-12), averaging 3.1 points and 1.1 rebounds per game. Victor was suspended for UTEP trip, the first game after the fall semester ended, for an academic issue, but joined the team on the trip to UNLV.
Victor played five minutes, scored two points and grabbed one rebound in the 73-49 win over ASU on Sunday.
The New Orleans native, who was a four-star recruit, choose the UA over Kansas, LSU and Oklahoma State.
After junior forward Brandon Ashley decided to return instead of entering the NBA Draft, Victor’s potential playing time decreased dramatically.
“I understand what I came into with Brandon being hurt and coming back,” Victor said at a press conference on December 15. “It’s just a plus for me, because next year teams won’t have any scouting reports. I’m just getting better, I know I’m getting better, that’s all that matters, helping other guys get better too, competing every day.”
On December 15, Victor said his “line of communication” is closed if it isn’t positive when asked if anyone back home was reminding him that he would play more elsewhere.
“My games are played in practice, so you would probably say I don’t play much, but I’ve played close to 30 some games already because that’s just how practice is for me,” Victor said on December 15.
It is not known yet where Victor will land, but if he enrolls before that school’s semester starts, he can play as soon as their fall semester ends. Players must sit out a year after transferring to other Division I schools.
ESPN ranked him the 37th best recruit and No. 9 power forward, Rivals had him as their 40th best overall recruit, Scout ranked him as the 42nd best recruit and eighth best power forward and 24/7 Sports had him as the 49th best recruit and No. 11 power forward.
_______________
Follow James Kelley on Twitter.
