Heralded Buffalo transfer will be coveted by high majors

The point guard who led Buffalo to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances the past two seasons will seek a bigger stage to showcase his talents.

The Bulls announced Wednesday that leading scorer Lamonte Bearden intends to transfer. Bearden will sit out the 2016-17 season and then have two years of eligibility remaining at his new destination.

“I spoke with Lamonte Bearden last week about his basketball future and he thought it would be in his best interest to transfer,” Buffalo coach Nate Oats said in a statement. “Even though I am disappointed in his decision, I want him to be at peace with where he is at. He has been given his release to pursue other options.”

Credit Buffalo for granting him a full release even though his decision came far later in the offseason calendar than most transfers. Bearden will seek a high-major program with a vacant scholarship and playing time available at point guard following next season.

Whichever program lands Bearden will get a former four-star recruit whose signing was hailed as a coup for former Buffalo coach Bobby Hurley. Bearden largely lived up to the hype too, averaging 8.3 points and 4.4 assists as a freshman and then increasing his scoring to 13.7 points per game last season after the Bulls lost their two leading scorers.

Bearden’s greatest strengths are his ability to attack the lane off the dribble, create for himself or his teammates and make good decisions with the ball in his hands. He needs to spend his redshirt year improving his outside shot, however, as opposing defenders have been able to play him to drive without much fear of consequence.

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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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