Siena men’s basketball point guard Javian McCollum, the team’s leading scorer, announced Friday he has entered NCAA transfer portal.
McCollum, a sophomore from Fort Myers, Fla., averaged 15.9 points per game this season for the Saints, who went 17-15 and ended the season on a six-game losing streak.
McCollum made third-team all-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
“I just wanted to test my market value,” McCollum said in a phone interview. “That’s all. I just want to see what types of looks I can get. If I don’t feel comfortable with the looks I get, I mean I already talked to Carm (Maciariello, Siena head coach), I could come back and play for Carm. There’s nothing wrong with this organization over here. It’s a group. It’s a great coaching staff, great teammates and I wouldn’t change it for the world, but I just want to see what kind of opportunities are out there for me.”
McCollum’s name has already been removed from Siena’s online roster.
McCollum said he came to the decision after two weeks of speaking with his family and “constantly praying about it.” He said he hopes to play at a level higher than the MAAC. He said he is already getting calls from schools, but declined to say which ones.
Efforts to reach Maciariello weren’t immediately successful.
McCollum, the first Siena player to enter the portal this year, said he didn’t know if any teammates would join him.
McCollum thanked Maciariello and the rest of the coaching staff in a Twitter post and later said he had no problem with the way he was used on the court.
“I think the use was great,” McCollum said. “I mean, I enjoyed being here. It’s a great atmosphere. The students were great. I enjoyed my two years here. I wouldn’t say it was miserable here. I had a great time. I love it here.”
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