Walsh talks transfer to Akron

Brian Walsh attended Moon High School, so according to Varsity Blog rules, that makes him eligible to be included on this blog, right?

Walsh, former standout guard on the Moon basketball team, recently transferred from Xavier to the University of Akron. He will sit out this year and have two years eligibility.

Things never really worked out for Walsh at Xavier. He was recruited by Sean Miller, but Miller left after Walsh's first year to become Arizona's coach. Walsh was redshirted his first year because of wrist and back injuries. But he played in only 21 of 35 games this past season and averaged only four minutes a game.

When Jordan Crawford turned pro, he thought his playing time would increase this upcoming season. But after a meeting with coach Chris Mack in June, Walsh decided it would be best to transfer.

"Once Coach Miller left, I was really contemplating whether to stick it out another year - and I did that," Walsh said. "I thought this upcoming year, I might have a chance to have a bigger impact and play a lot. But [Mack] brought in his new guys and he just saw things differently than I saw things for this upcoming year.

"Everybody at Xavier treated me well. I had a great two years there academically. Basketball-wise I didn't achieve as much. ... Playing behind Jordan Crawford was a great experience. I learned so much. Everybody there was good to me. It was a good two years."

Akron coach Keith Dambrot recruited Walsh when Walsh was at Moon. After receiving his release from Xavier, Akron recruited him again.

"There's no question now that I'm a better player than I was in high school," Walsh said. "I can do a lot more physically. Playing and practicing against those types of players for two years helps."

Akron will have two other WPIAL players on its roster this year - former Shenango guard Steve McNees, and former McKeesport center Zeke Marshall.

For more from Walsh, look for a story in tomorrow's Post-Gazette West edition and also on the PG web site.

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