Out with the old and in with the new. Sounds a bit callous on the level, but when your entire starting five have moved on, as a program you’re forced to move on to the next thing.
Days after junior-to-be point guard Shane Larkin announced his intentions to enter the NBA Draft, former Kansas State point guard and Miami native Angel Rodriguez is heading home.
The 5-foot-11 shooter spent the past two years in Manhattan and is reportedly a ‘done deal’ in regards to joining UM’s squad and playing for Jim Larranaga this coming season, barring he’s granted a waiver by the NCAA.
With 2013-2014 a rebuilding year for Miami, it actually might make more sense for Rodriguez to sit out the season, giving him two years of eligibility starting in 2014-2015.
Rodriguez played his high school ball at Krop High and with family in Puerto Rico, prefers to be closer to home, where his relatives can attend games at the BankUnited Center. Rodriguez averaged 11.4 points and 5.2 assists last season with Kansas State, who won 27 games.
Larranaga and the basketball program will also get an assist from Al Golden and the Miami football program as two incoming freshmen plan on hitting the hardwood, as well as the gridiron.
Tennessee football and basketball player of the year, and late UM signee, 5-foot-11, Corn Elder stated that he and 6-foot-7 Derrick Griffin plan on playing basketball for the Canes this upcoming season.
Miami did have a recent setback regarding Northeast High School power forward Demetrius Henry, who looked to be Coral Gables-bound but wound up choosing South Carolina instead of the hometown squad. The 6-foot-9 Henry was rated a four-star prospect.