If the ASU men's basketball team had to play a game today, it would be slim pickings for eighth-year coach Rob Evans.
Sophomore forward Tim Pierce and junior forward Wilfried Fameni told The State Press on Monday that they have quit the team and intend to transfer.
Pierce and Fameni are the fourth and fifth players to leave the program in the past year. The others are guard Tron Smith and forwards Chris Low and Keith Wooden.
"I just thought I would be happier someplace else," Pierce said. "Coach Evans taught me a lot this year, but I thought it would be better for me to go."
An ASU spokesman said Monday that Evans was unavailable for comment because he's out of town.
Pierce said he was granted his release. He wants to transfer to another Division I school, not a junior college.
"I'm still going to play basketball," Pierce said. "I'm just finishing off the semester of school ... and I'm still working out with the team."
Pierce appeared in 21 games as a freshman, averaging 3.0 points and 1.6 rebounds. He came to ASU with impressive credentials, having once scored 51 points in a high school game.
Fameni, a second-team Pac-10 All-Academic selection, averaged 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds last year while bothered by a knee injury that required postseason surgery. He plans to get his release today.
"I wasn't feeling comfortable here," Fameni said. "That was the bottom line."
With Pierce and Fameni both gone, ASU has two more scholarships available. Wooden, Smith and senior forward Ike Diogu, who has declared for the NBA draft, also were on scholarship.
Next year's recruiting class features three high school seniors in Sylvester Seay of Winchendon (Mass.) School; Seketoure Henry of Lynwood (Calif.) High School; and Jeff Pendergraph of Etiwanda (Calif.) High School.
Evans is expected to land at least one player during the spring signing period. Touted recruits include Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College guard Antwi Atuahene, San Bernardino (Calif.) Community College guard Kevin Henderson and forward Benoit Bekono, a senior at Our Savior New American School in Centereach, N.Y.
Reach the reporters at ASUHoodzow@gmail.com and matt.reinick@asu.edu.
