UA wing Zane Johnson requested to transfer from the Arizona men’s basketball team and expects to be granted a release from his scholarship.
Johnson met with newly hired UA head coach Sean Miller on Tuesday to discuss his intentions. He was checked academically, leaving UA athletics director Jim Livengood without issues for the release.
It is unclear where the 6-foot-5, 204-pound wing will transfer. Livengood said the two have not yet discussed Johnson’s request.
“”Unless it’s an unusual situation, then normally I will automatically grant that,”” Livengood said Wednesday.
Johnson, who will be a junior in the fall, started 13 of 33 games this past season as a sophomore under interim head coach Russ Pennell. The 3-point specialist averaged 4.6 points and 1.8 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per game.
With Miller’s arrival this season, it would be Johnson’s third coach in three years. He spent his freshman year under then-interim head coach Kevin O’Neill and last season under Pennell.
Johnson never played under ex-Wildcat head coach Lute Olson, who took a season-long leave of absence during Johnson’s freshman season.
“”Anytime you have a change, everybody has to evaluate themselves and what’s best for the individual,”” Livengood said. “”Whatever happens needs to be in the best interest of Zane.””
Johnson was pulled from his redshirt by O’Neill as a true freshman in the Wildcats’ game at ASU. He averaged 0.9 points and 0.6 boards in just 4.9 minutes per game that season.
The Phoenix native was a three-star recruit from Thunderbird High School and was ranked 143rd overall in his class by Rivals.com.
Johnson was not available for comment Wednesday, and did not return phone calls as of press time on Wednesday.
“”I think the world of Zane,”” Livengood said. “”I think he’s a great young man and good player.””
Miller commented on the situation through a statement, saying, “”We wish Zane only the best of luck. He felt that opportunities would be better for him elsewhere.””