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Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett announced today that sophomore guard KT Harrell will be leaving the program.
"I was informed by KT and his parents today (Friday, Dec. 23) that he is planning to transfer," Bennett said in the media release. "I was disappointed by his decision to leave Virginia. I was hoping he would stay, but I appreciate his contributions to our program and wish him the best in the future."
This season, the 6'4 Montgomery, Alabama native has played in all 11 games, starting the first five. He averages 4.7 points per game, shooting 31.5% from the field and 19% from beyond the arc. Last year, he averaged 8.0 points per game, shooting 42.3% from the field and 42.1% from three point land.
"I'm grateful for my experience at Virginia and for my teammates and coaches," Harrell said in today's release. "They were very kind and good to me. I wish them the best."
Though he averages 18.9 minutes per game, his playing time has seen a steady decline this season. He logged at least 30 minutes in each of the first four games, but averaged just 14.2 minutes per game in each of the next five, never playing longer than 20 minutes. In the last two games, he had just four minutes at Oregon and seven minutes at Seattle.
Harrell had been struggling with his shot most of this season. He had two double-digit scoring games, against South Carolina State and Green Bay, but otherwise never shot more than 40%, including six (of 11) games with no field goals.
As a freshman last season, Harrell played in all 31 games, starting in 15 of them.
Of Bennett's inaugural recruiting class, dubbed by the Daily Progress as Bennett's "Six Shooters," only half remain -- Joe Harris, Akil Mitchell and James Johnson. The other three have elected to transfer elsewhere -- Billy Baron to play for his father at Rhode Island, Will Regan to return home to play for Buffalo, and now Harrell.
There has been no announcement yet as to where Harrell intends on transferring.