Patsatsia To Transfer

The below article was on HawgsIllustrated.com yesterday (April 2, 2008) regarding the transfer of Levan Patsatsia:

Freshman guard Levan Patsatsia will not be back with the Razorbacks next season. Sources close to the basketball program told Hawgs Illustrated that Patsatsia would transfer from Arkansas at the end of the semester.

No official news about Patsatsia’s departure had been released by the Arkansas athletic department as of Wednesday, and coach John Pelphrey couldn’t be reached.

Patsatsia, a 6-foot-6, 215-pounder from the Republic of Georgia in the former Soviet Union, was recruited by Pelphrey to add depth in the backcourt.

Though a skilled shooter, Patsatsia had trouble keeping up with athleticism of Division I basketball. He appeared in just eight games, logging 17 minutes and scoring his lone points on a 3-pointer against Northwestern State on Dec. 19.

Arkansas now has three scholarships left to fill for next season. Pelphrey is expected to fill at least two of those spots and could fill all three.

This is great news. Patsatsia was an excellent shooter but was lacking the needed skills in the rest of his game. So much for those foreign "hybrid players". I never for one second, thought he would do much for this Razorback squad. Good luck to where ever he goes. Probably will wind up back in Georgia, or Playing NAIA or Div. II ball. Arkansas has one more scholarship now, EXCELLENT. Does anyone think Pelphrey is "Cutting the Fat" off this soon to be Razorback squad? I do. I think it's rather obvious too. Pelphrey got that tase of the NCAA's in his mouth and he wants more, and I REALLY like the fact he is getting rid of the less qualified players to add  better depth to the roster.

Peace, Love, Hawgs

I wish him and Rakestraw all the best in whatever they do next and I appreciate their contribution to the Razorback program.  Even if he primarily just played on the practice squad, he contributed to this year's success.  All recruits are hit and miss, whether they are from the US or not.  A lot of people were skeptical about Ogilby at Vandy too.

Freeing up a scholarship at this time of year is not necessarily a good thing.  The best players have already signed with a team, so Pel will be relegated to finding someone who slipped through the cracks or just fill the scholarship with another less talented player "for depth".  Don't expect him to come through with the next Corliss Williamson.  We're more likely to get another role player for the practice squad.