Arizona junior G Alex Barcello announces he will transfer
Jun 24, 2019, 9:26 AM
Arizona guard Alex Barcello reacts after making a 3-point basket against Oregon State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz. Arizona defeated Oregon State 82-71. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Facing a likely roster crunch, junior guard Alex Barcello announced Monday on Twitter that he will transfer out of the Arizona Wildcats basketball program.
“I want to say Thank You to the University of Arizona and the fans for these past two amazing years but I have decided it’s in my best interest to move in a direction that’s best for myself and my family,” he wrote.
Barcello, a former four-star recruit out of Corona Del Sol High School in Tempe, Ariz., averaged 3.3 points and 0.5 assists while shooting 39.3% from the field in 2018-19. For the second year in a row, he struggled to grab hold of a rotation spot and averaged just under 10 minutes of playing time per game.
Arizona also lost freshman guard Devonaire Doutrive to the transfer portal this offseason, but the departures come as head coach Sean Miller expects to welcome a talented recruiting class to the squad.
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Five-star recruits and incoming freshmen Nico Mannion and Josh Green, both of whom were McDonald’s All-Americans, are expected to round out the starting backcourt, though Green could slide to small forward. The Wildcats also return sophomore point guard Brandon Williams and redshirt senior Dylan Smith to the team this coming season, but that duo that contributed heavily last season could even end up in reserve roles.
UC-Irvine transfer Max Hazzard is also joining the group of guards and is immediately available to play.
Barcello isn’t the only loss for Arizona this week.
Committed incoming high schooler Terry Armstrong decided against attending Arizona and will pursue pro opportunities in the G League or abroad, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein.
