Tim Douglas departs

By Bruce Garlinghouse, Staff Writer -- garlingh13@up.edu

Sophomore Tim Douglas requested and has been granted a release from the men's basketball team and said he plans to transfer.

Douglas said he approached Head Coach Eric Reveno about transferring last week, citing differences in where he sees himself as part of the team in the future.

"I didn't agree with some of the decisions made this year," Douglas said. "In the end I had to do what was best for me."

Douglas' decision came after a post-season meeting with Head Coach Eric Reveno.

Reveno said he was surprised when he returned home from a recruiting trip to Spain and Douglas asked to be released

"We addressed this season and talked about things to improve upon for next season," Reveno said. "I thought we had some good discussions and we were feeling good about where we were heading."

Teammate sophomore Ryan Nicholas said he could sense something was wrong.

"I knew something was up. I think we all did," Nicholas said.

However, he said the news still came as a shock.

"Even though we knew something might be coming you can't prepare yourself for that," Nicholas said. "I've never had to go through something like that."

Both Reveno and Nicholas said they support Douglas' decision and hope for the best.

Reveno, a former college basketball player, said he understands how important a college career can be.

"I always tell these guys that your four years playing college are precious," Reveno said. "I still think UP is the best fit for Tim, but it was his decision and I wish him the best."

Douglas said he has not decided where he will be going and said he has been talking to some schools but did not say which ones.

He said he has no plan of transferring to another WCC school. By NCAA rules, transferring within a conference results in a loss of a year of eligibility.

As a transfer, he will have to sit out the next season, but will keep his next two years of eligibility.

A California native, Douglas said he hopes to continue playing somewhere on the West Coast, but is not limiting his decisions.

His decision comes only weeks after the Pilots' worst season in a decade.

Douglas said he didn't see eye to eye with some coaching decisions, specifically Reveno's decision to put him at shooting guard.

"I had expressed some discomfort about what position I'd be playing and what I'd be playing in the future," Douglas said.

At five feet ten inches and 160 pounds, Douglas is small even by point guard standards.

As a freshman Douglas played in 28 games at the point while backing up starter, alumnus T.J. Campbell. He played an average of 20 minutes per game and averaged 7.7 points and 4 assists per game on a 20-win team.

This year, graduating four seniors, the young Pilots struggled early on. After winning their first two games, they lost their next four and only grabbed one victory in their 12 conference games.

In an attempt to cut down on turnovers, Reveno shuffled the point guard rotation, starting both junior Derrick Rodgers and freshman David Carr at point guard at times and playing Douglas at shooting guard.

Douglas saw an increase of just three minutes per game but committed 27 more turnovers than last year.

Douglas' exit leaves more uncertainty at the point guard position, but also opens up a new scholarship spot.

Reveno has found success in recruiting junior college players in recent years, especially at the point guard position, including Rodgers who transferred to UP from Citrus College in California last year.

Campbell, graduated in the spring of 2010, another junior college transfer, helped the Pilots to a 21-11 record during the 2009-2010 season and has played professionally in Australia and has recently spent some time in the NBA's Developmental League.

Reveno said that the recruiting season is still young and they will have a better idea as they get further along in the recruiting process.

"Not every player is meant to be at every school," Nicholas said. "We can't look back. We just have to move forward with the players that are on the court."