Breaking: McConnell to transfer

Duquesne basketball has been dealt a sizable blow: point guard T.J. McConnell is transferring.

McConnell’s father told the Post-Gazette tonight that his son has been granted a release.

From Breaking News:

By Mike White
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Duquesne University basketball player T.J. McConnell has decided to leave the team and will transfer to another school.
McConnell, a sophomore guard and former star at Chartiers Valley High School, has asked for his release from Duquesne. He met with Duquesne coach Ron Everhart Monday, and McConnell's father, Tim, met with Duquesne athletic director Greg Amodio today. The elder McConnell said Duquesne has agreed to release his son so that he can transfer to another school.
T.J. McConnell confirmed he will transfer but directed all questions to his father. Tim McConnell said his son does not know where he will transfer.
"We'll go through the process and look at some schools," Tim McConnell said.
T.J. McConnell will finish the spring semester at Duquesne. Tim McConnell had nothing but praise for Everhart.
“T.J. is very thankful for the opportunity that Ron Everhart gave him,” Tim McConnell said. “He loves Ron Everhart and we can’t say enough good things about him. This has nothing to do with coach Everhart or the Duquesne administration, or the university. It’s a great school. T.J. just feels like he would like to try and play at a higher level.”
McConnell was the Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Year in 2011 and he was a third-team all-conference selection this past season. He was third in the country in steals at 2.8 a game.

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This is a significant loss for the Dukes, who despite their lack of size this season, struggles in critical moments, could hang their hat on McConnell’s ability to run the offense.

Coupled with the loss of G Mike Talley, who confirmed with the Post-Gazette earlier tonight that he too is transferring, this is a major blow for the Dukes.

Calls to Coach Ron Everhart were not immediately returned.