Iowa backup guard to transfer

EUGENE, Ore. - Iowa sophomore point guard Branden Stubbs will leave the basketball program after the spring semester to seek more playing time, Coach Fran McCaffery said.

Stubbs, a 6-foot-2 walk-on from Pleasant Hill, played in 12 games this year and averaged 1.2 points. He had six assists and six turnovers.

"It's very positive. He's thankful for the opportunity," McCaffery said. "We love him, we're helping him. He just wants to play more. I respect that. I respect how he did it."

Stubbs, 20, statistically ranks among the elite high school players in Iowa history. At Des Moines Christian, he dished 712 assists, third-most in state history. He ranks 20th all-time in scoring with 2,145 points, just three points shy of Raef LaFrentz.

In 2010, Stubbs was the Class 2A player of the year after leading Des Moines Christian to a 26-1 record. Stubbs led Class 2A in scoring and assists that year.

"Stubby's basketball IQ is off the charts," McCaffery said, "and he can make shots. And he's a tough kid. He's going to be a really good player for somebody. I am going to recommend him highly. I hope he finds the right place."

McCaffery said Stubbs is considering both Division I and Division II offers.

"He could play at a lot of places, and he knew that," McCaffery said. "He was intrigued by the opportunity to come in here and see what this was and he grew. He's lifted. His body is so much different than it was when he first got here. This experience will really help him I think."