Bona basketball loses two freshmen
By Rodney McKissic - News Sports Reporter
Updated: 05/09/08 10:35 AM
St. Bonaventure freshmen basketball players Hillary Haley and Matt Morgan have decided to transfer.
The two departures, coupled with the graduation of seniors Michael Lee, Zarryon Fereti and Tyler Relph, leave the Bonnies with just three players who played significant minutes last season: seniors D'Lancy Carter and Tyler Benson and sophomore Malcolm Eleby.
But St. Bonaventure has signed five players and will now add two more with the departures of Haley and Morgan. On Thursday, the Bonnies signed guard Michael Davenport from Cincinnati, who joins junior college transfers Ray Blackburn of Erie Community College and Lewis Leonard from San Bernardino Valley College in California and high school players Andrew Nicholson, a 7-foot center from Mississauga, Ont., and 6-8 swingman Marquis Simmons from Washington, D.C.
The 6-6 Haley started 14 games before handing his starting job over to Benson. Haley scored in double figures four times and was often one of the first players off the bench. Haley, who originally signed with East Carolina before a coaching change, was expected to start at either shooting guard or small forward next season.
The 6-8 Morgan was named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week in back-to-back weeks to start February. He started two games and averaged 3.8 points and 2.4 rebounds and was slated to see more playing time in the post. The transfer of Morgan leaves the Bonnies thin on experience up front. It is not clear where Haley and Morgan will transfer.
"It's unfortunate that Hillary and Matt won't be a part of the resurgence of this program," St. Bonaventure coach Mark Schmidt said in a statement. "We wish them the best not only in their college careers, but with all their future endeavors."
