Royce Rolls: Woolridge Announces Transfer

Royce Woolridge announced on Friday that he was transferring from the Kansas program. Woolridge will finish the spring semester at KU.

“When Royce and I met after the season, we talked openly and honestly of the potential role he would have for our team moving forward,” Self said. “After the meeting he wanted to visit with his family. He then came back to me yesterday and said he wanted his release and was seeking to transfer.”

Woolridge has not yet decided on where he will transfer to.

As a freshman this past season, Woolridge played in 15 games for Kansas and averaged 2.8 minutes and 0.6 points per contest. The Phoenix, Ariz., native played in six Big 12 contests and was member of the fall 2010 Athletic Director’s and Big 12 Commissioner’s honor rolls where he maintained a minimum 3.0 grade point average.

“I love Kansas, but I just really want to play (more),” Woolridge said. “I feel like I will have more of an opportunity to play if I went somewhere else. I haven’t chosen a school (at this time).”

“The KU coaches have taught me so much,” Woolridge said. “Coach Self is an amazing coach. All the assistant coaches have taught me a ton this year. I’ve learned more about basketball that I had no idea about. I look at basketball from a whole different perspective because of the coaches. I really understand it more.”

“I want to thank all of my teammates,” Woolridge added. “They are family. I want to thank the fans. They have been amazing. I didn’t even play and they still showed me a lot of love and accepted me as part of the KU family and I appreciate that. I want to thank the wives of the coaches for helping me. My mom was back in Phoenix (during the season) and they helped me from that standpoint.”

“Kansas made me better, no doubt,” Woolridge said. “I am so much better and this place helped me become more of a man and I appreciate everything it has done for me.”

–

The decision seems odd to me.  If he didn’t think he’d play at Kansas next year, why did he even come to Kansas to begin with. While he was one of the last guards off the bench this past year, three guards are departing the program (Josh Selby, Brady Morningstar, Tyrel Reed) and Mario Little is departing, too.

To make this easier, we’ll consider Ben McLemore and Travis Releford as guards…

Next year’s roster currently has Tyshawn Taylor, Elijah Johnson, Travis Releford, Naadir Tharpe, and Ben McLemore as legitimate guards that will see significant playing time (Apologies to Conner Teahan).

Woolridge would have had seniority over Tharpe and McLemore. Kansas can still add Trevor Lacey. Woolridge doesn’t think he’ll get playing time as the fourth guard? I find that odd.

Woolridge had to have known that Kansas would always be stock full of great guards. I Woolridge committed to the University of Kansas when he was 15. don’t really believe Woolridge has NBA potential as he’s too small. Seems to me that the easy choice would be to stay at Kansas, a place that he loves, and be a role player. He’s the type of guy Kansas needs to win championships. It’s a shame that he decided to leave.