Former Wash prep Washpun will transfer to UNI

CEDAR FALLS -- The early bird gets the worm. Or in this case, Wes Washpun.

"I bet it was about 10 minutes after I officially got my release, and they called me," the former Cedar Rapids Washington all-stater said Monday night after confirming he will transfer to Northern Iowa to play college basketball.

Washpun announced a couple of weeks ago that he was leaving Tennessee after playing in 17 games as a freshman backup point guard. He's on his way back this way.

"I had a good year here (at Knoxville), got some playing time," Washpun said. "I loved Coach (Cuonzo) Martin. It was great being here ... I just felt like I had to come home."

Washpun said he made an official visit to Cedar Falls last weekend. He will have to red-shirt this season, per NCAA rules, then will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

"We wish nothing but the best for Wes,” Martin said in a release two weeks ago. “He's a high-character kid who comes from a good family. We all want to see him be successful.”