Valentine Izundu to transfer from WSU basketball team
Washington State center Valentine Izundu will graduate and transfer to a new school, where he will be immediately eligible to play.
Izundu played only his redshirt junior season for the Cougars, having first transferred from the University of Houston prior to the 2014-15 season, which he sat out per NCAA transfer rules.
Jeff Goodman of ESPN was the first to report that Izundu will transfer.
Washington State 6-11 big man Valentine Izundu told ESPN he will transfer. Eligible immediately.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 4, 2016
The 6-foot-10, 235-pound center had an undeniable impact on defense, where his block percentage of 13.9 would have ranked No. 2 nationally, had he played a sufficient number (40 percent) of his team's minutes to be included in Ken Pomeroy's rankings. That was the rub with Izundu – in addition to struggles with injury, he was limited offensively and averaged just 3.8 points per game (10.2 per 40 minutes played).
Because Izundu graduates and leaves "in good academic standing" (he was named second team All-Pac-12 All-Academic), his departure will not adversely affect WSU's APR score.
Izundu's departure means that WSU coach Ernie Kent has two scholarships to offer before the start of next season. I have heard that, in addition high school and junior college recruits, the Cougars are considering college transfers, as well.
Izundu is the third player to transfer from WSU following the 2015-16 season, joining Ny Redding and Renard Suggs.
Transfers have become exceedingly common in men's college basketball, and about 40 percent of all recruits depart their initial school by the end of their sophomore year. About 90 percent of all athletes who transfer say they did so for athletic reasons. According to ESPN's 2015 transfer list, 528 players transferred to another institution and played for its basketball team.
