Fans crowded Sammy’s Tap & Grill back in 2009 and 2010 for two highly-touted recruits who would undoubtedly make a huge impact on Tobacco Road for years to come for the Wolfpack .
Just one day after the announcement that freshman forward C.J . Leslie would be staying put in Raleigh, fellow freshman guard Ryan Harrow declared that he would be transferring from the University.
In a statement released by the University, new head coach Mark Gottfried and Harrow reached a mutual decision that would allow the freshman to transfer to another program.
Gottfried said that he will back Harrow in any decision that he makes, unless it leads him to a conference foe, of course.
“We wish him well and will do anything we can to assist him in this process,” Gottfried said.
Speculation has been flying around that several schools have shown interest in Harrow, spanning from powerhouse Kentucky to up-and-comers like Fresno State. Regardless of what Harrow eventually decides, he will have to sit out for one season before he is able to play with any University.
There have been no official announcements as to where he plans to transfer to, but Harrow said he feels that the year off will be the best thing for him right now.
“The year off will help me improve in many ways and I think the decision is the best for me personally,” Harrow said.
Harrow played well for the Wolfpack at the beginning of the season, eventually earning a starting role with the team. Then he was stricken with an illness that kept him out of a few games before returning to compete just before the ACC Tournament.
All in all, Harrow started in 10 of the 29 games that he played in, finishing fourth on the team in points per game with 9.3 and second on the team in assists with 3.3 per game.
While it was highly speculated at the time of Sidney Lowe’s departure that Harrow would potentially transfer, many believed that he would be staying put after hearing that Leslie would remain with the team. Harrow had a close relationship with Lowe from the moment that he signed with the school.
Following his initial signing with the Pack, he said he felt that Lowe would be able to develop into a standout point guard in the ACC.
“I feel that coach Lowe really wants me to become his future point guard and I really like him,” Harrow said. “I believe that his point guard expertise and coaching experience in the college and the NBA can really help me to develop my game.”
Though Harrow has decided to leave the school for unknown reasons, he did have some pleasant parting words for Gottfried and his newly hired administration.
“I think the staff will do good things here at N.C . State,” Harrow said.
Harrow’s departure leaves the Pack with one less starter from the season prior, but Leslie and freshman guard Lorenzo Brown have said that they will be back with the team next season. While no official announcement has been made about junior forwards Scott Wood and Richard Howell will presumably join senior guard C.J . Williams for the Pack next season.
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