Pfeifer overhauls Idaho roster

Just more than a month ago, the University of Idaho hired a new men’s basketball coach. A month later, the team’s roster has been almost completely overhauled.

At least six players from last year’s team are not expected to return at Idaho, which has announced the signing of seven players, including six junior college transfers.

On Wednesday, Matt Forge, Aaron Smith, Nebojsa Jakovljevic and Brett Ledbetter were told by new head coach George Pfeifer that their scholarships weren’t being renewed. Shortly after Pfeifer was hired, forward David Dubois announced he was transferring. Forward Igor Vrzina and guard Jason Bowden-Key also aren’t expected to return.

“I kind of figured from being smart and just knowing how the system works that there was a good chance of me not getting to come back,” said Forge, a redshirt freshman from Lewiston who came to Idaho as a walk-on before earning a scholarship prior to last season. “But the longer it went on, it made me think I would be able to stay here.”

Forge said Pfeifer told him it was “totally a business decision.”

Forge and Smith said Pfeifer told them they could remain at Idaho as walk-ons. Forge is planning on transferring and said that Pfeifer offered to help him find another school.

Smith, a 6-foot-7 forward from Troy, saw limited time as a true freshman last year.

“I was kind of surprised, I wasn’t expecting to hear that at the meeting (with Pfeifer),” Smith said. “I was kind of expecting to get some pointers on what I can do to get better. I didn’t think that it would happen, but it was kind of weird because you don’t usually bring in so many (new) guys.”

Smith is considering his options.

“Basically (Pfeifer said) that the program needed to get better in a hurry and I hadn’t quite matured to be big enough and strong enough to play at this level,” Smith said. “I’m kind of leaning toward that option (of redshirting at Idaho as a walk-on) and not losing a year of eligibility is appealing to me. I really like the strength program here.”

Ledbetter confirmed that Pfeifer informed him that his scholarship won’t be renewed, but declined further comment.

Bowden-Key and Vrzina “decided to leave, more on their own from what I’ve heard,” Ledbetter said.

Pfeifer declined comment other than to say, “We’re working through it right now.” Athletic director Rob Spear also declined comment.

If Smith decides to return as a walk-on, he would join guard Keoni Watson and forwards Mike Kale and Desmond Nwoke as the only players back from last year’s 4-25 team. Point guard Jerod Haynes quit during the season in November. Mitchell Johnson, who redshirted last season, is still recovering from injuries sustained in an automobile accident last year.