Forward leaves men’s basketball team, plans to transfer

Sophomore forward Drew Gordon has left the UCLA men’s basketball team and will transfer after fall quarter, according to a statement released by the UCLA Athletic Department.

Coach Ben Howland said that Gordon’s decision to transfer was a mutual agreement and one that had been discussed “over the course of months.”

“After several discussions with Drew, we both decided that it is in the best interests of our program and Drew that he continues his career at another school,” Howland said in the statement. “He is no longer a member of our team and will transfer at the end of the quarter.”

At his weekly press conference today, Howland did not expand into the particulars of why he and Gordon came to the decision to transfer other than that it was discussed at length over an extended period of time.

“There are a number of issues and things that have occurred,” Howland said. “I wish Drew well and hope he finds a program that’s best suited for him.”

Howland said that Gordon will stay in school and finish finals, and then explore his options.

Through the Bruins’ first six games, Gordon emerged as one of the team’s go-to scorers, averaging 11.2 points per game (third on the team) and grabbing 5.3 rebounds per game (second on the team) as the starting center.

“This is not a spur-of-the-moment decision, and ultimately, it’s what’s best for all parties,” Howland said.

With Gordon no longer on the team, Howland said that freshman Reeves Nelson, sophomore J’mison Morgan and freshman Anthony Stover will see increased minutes.

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