La Salle swingman opts to transfer
Sophomore D.J. Peterson says he wants to play at a school closer to his Minnesota home.
LA SALLE COACH John Giannini came into work yesterday expecting nothing out of the ordinary. Then, sophomore swingman D.J. Peterson, who has played in all 68 games in his college career and started 18 for this season's Sweet 16 team told the coach he wanted to transfer to a school closer to his Minnesota home.
"Everyone's shocked," Giannini said. "He likes the school. He played a lot. The team is good, and he likes the guys on the team. He just wants to go closer to home."
Peterson played 872 minutes this season and 610 minutes as a freshman. A terrific long-range shooter and free throw shooter, Peterson was your classic glue guy who never hurt you and often helped you. He had only 14 turnovers for a team that went 24-10 and won those three NCAA games. He averaged only 3.9 points, but many of his points came at significant times.
"It's very surprising," Giannini said. "He said he's been away from home for a long time and just wants to go close to home."
In a statement released by the school, Peterson said: "I've enjoyed my time and the relationships I've made here at La Salle. However, I want to explore opportunities closer to home to continue my education and basketball career. I want to thank my coaches, teammates and fans for their support during my 2 years here."
Giannini stressed that there are no issues with the player. The coaches wanted him to stay.
"Every person in our program is surprised, to put it mildly," Giannini said. "There really are no issues with anything, other than he'd like to go closer to home . . . My understanding is that it has nothing to do with basketball or anything with his experience at La Salle."
Even though he was caught off-guard, Giannini told Peterson: "You did more for us in 2 years than a lot of players would in 4 or 5 years. We love you. We can't change the way you feel. We don't want you to go, but we're going to try to help you."
Basketballwise, La Salle still figures to be very strong next season, with Tyreek Duren, Sam Mills, Tyrone Garland, Jerrell Wright and Steve Zack the likely starting five.
Delaware transfer Khalid Lewis and La Salle High's Amar Stukes will be part of a very strong backcourt rotation, with La Salle still able to play four guards when deemed necessary. Freshman forward Jermaine Davis, who took a redshirt, will be on the court, along with Rohan Brown, who took a redshirt in 2011-12 and got meaningful minutes this season.
And La Salle just got a signed letter of intent from 6-10 Tony Washington.
"He gives us something we haven't had," Giannini said. "Our big guys are really strong and physical, and they've done a great job for us. But we haven't had an over-the-rim, shot-blocker type, and we think that Tony can be that type of player."
Washington was born in Detroit, went to high school in South Carolina and spent the last 2 years at the Miller School of Albemarle, a prep school in Charlottesville, Va. Washington made his official visit to La Salle early last week.