No transfer talk in Hawkeye basketball camp now

IOWA CITY - University of Iowa coaches and players said Tuesday the recent era of player transfers seems to have run its course.

“I can't imagine with this group, but I can understand why you asked me because we've gone through two years now where we've had (transfers) at the end,” Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter said. “I do think it's not completely unique.”

Nine scholarship players have left Lickliter's program for various reasons. Some were unhappy, others wanted more playing time and some wanted to be closer to family.

Last year sent a shock wave through Iowa basketball when four players transferred after the season. Each of those players started at least five games. The key losses were sophomore guards Jake Kelly - the team's leading scorer - and Jeff Peterson, who started the first 25 games at point guard. Juniors Jermain Davis (11 starts) and David Palmer (five starts) left for Division II schools.

Junior center Jarryd Cole said, unlike last year, he hasn't heard of any players planning to leave.

“There were some people talking (last year) that they weren't happy, things like that,” Cole said. “That's not going around right now. It's really hard to tell what's going to go on, what's going to happen, but time will tell.”

Sophomore guard Anthony Tucker started 11 games this year before he was arrested for public intoxication. After serving a five-week athletics department suspension, Tucker was allowed to practice and travel with the team. Lickliter didn't play him, and Tucker sought and received his scholarship release two weeks ago.

Rumors have swirled on Internet message boards that another wave of player transfers is on the horizon. Sophomore forward Aaron Fuller and freshman point guard Cully Payne joined Cole in shooting down those rumors.

“Last year I guess toward the end they were OK and then all those guys left and it was just kind of like restart, which wasn't fair for coach,” Payne said. “So I think we're all staying, I haven't heard anyone say they're leaving. ...

“People always come up to you, ‘Are you transferring?,' and stuff like that. We laugh at them. We're like brothers in there. We're not going anywhere.”

Fuller, of Mesa, Ariz., said he's happy at Iowa and the program is headed in the right direction.

“My guys are here,” he said. “I feel really close with my teammates. I feel like we have come together this year and bonded. I feel like even though it hasn't been going our way this year, that we're really going to push through eventually.

“The season could be going better, but for the most part I'm happy. I love my teammates, and I just want to keep moving forward.”