Freshman forward Drew Viney was granted a release from his basketball scholarship at Oregon, Viney told the Emerald on Thursday.
Viney plans to move back to Southern California and is hoping to transfer to another Division I program. He listed Loyola Marymount University, San Diego State and the University of San Diego, which reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament this year after upsetting No. 4 seed Connecticut, as schools he was interested in.
The list isn’t definitive he said because Viney has yet to talk to any of the other schools’ coaches. He just wants to be near home.
“I just want to be closer to my family,” Viney said. “I’ve got a big support system down in Southern California. It’s a little too far away from home for me right now.
“It’s not a homesick feeling, but I just want to be around them more.”
Viney said his parents came to almost all of his games during his high school career.
“I didn’t play that much, but all the ones that were close to Southern California they came to,” Viney said about his year at Oregon.
Viney said he also wants to play club volleyball during the year he sits out due to NCAA transfer rules. He said some schools scouted him in high school but his commitment to basketball made a possible volleyball career a moot point.
“I’m not a Chase Budinger kind of volleyball player,” Viney said, referring to Arizona’s former basketball forward who also one of the nation’s top volleyball players in high school. “I’m not even close.”
Viney said Oregon coach Ernie Kent wasn’t upset with the decision, understanding that Viney needed to be closer to his family. Viney said Kent offered to help him find another college.
“Drew asked for his release and we have granted his request,” Kent said in a press release. “It’s always tough when a player departs your program, but I respect his decision and understand his desire to continue his career closer to home. Drew did a good job for us this season.”
Viney said Kamyron Brown, also from Southern California, was disappointed but understood why Viney wants to leave.
“No relationships (between the Oregon players) have changed at all,” Viney said. “Everyone was real cool with it.”
When asked, Viney said that Brown doesn’t have plans on transferring too.
“He would have told me,” Viney said.
Viney, from Villa Park, Calif., averaged 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds in 12 games during the 2007-08 season.
[email protected]