March 11, 4:21 p.m.
Sophomore Harrison Gaines has filed papers to transfer away from the Penn men's basketball team, his father, Harry Gaines, wrote in a press release.
According to the press release Penn "wasn't a good fit ... I believe my long-term satisfaction lies in joining another university team."
This year the guard from Victorville, Calif., averaged 9.9 points per game, which was second highest on the team. However, he only started 10 of Penn's 28 games, though he did play in 26 of the contests. He averaged 23.0 minutes, good for third on the team.
Gaines doesn't know where he'll play next year, although he does want the school to have good academics, not to mention "a fast-paced, inclusive basketball program."
Perhaps most tellingly, Gaines said "I need to attend a school where I have confidence in the basketball team's leaders."
The decision was not made at one point, but instead was an "ongoing process for a while" that started as early as the end of last year, his father said in a telephone interview. However, he decided to play this year since he hoped to win an Ivy League Championship, his father said.
Gaines is the second player to transfer away from Penn this year, as classmate Remy Cofield left the team on Jan. 16. Penn also lost senior Tommy McMahon, who quit the program after an injury-plagued career in December.
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