Henderson-Niles was putting up 5.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. (AP)
The big man with the hyphenated name is no longer a part of the Memphis basketball team.
Those who are close with the Memphis program say this is no surprise.
Henderson-Niles had seen his production drop drastically (he was never really a minutes-eater as it was) and was known to be too immature to handle for first-year head coach Josh Pastner, who is trying to build a team he wants to build while phasing out guys from the John Calipari era.
What are the exact details? I have no idea. But the consensus seems to be: It’s amazing he stuck around this long. That said, the parting of the ways is also believed to be fairly mutual. Perhaps a shrugging of the shoulders and a “well, this is how it has to be” kind of vibe.
It is strange that Memphis is cutting loose a player in the midst of a critical stretch for the team, in which it has to win a majority of its games in order to make The Tournament.
Pastner awoke from his slumber on Twitter this morning to wish the senior all the best.
He also had a few quotes, which went up with the brief story on the departure on Memphis’ official page last night.
“As I told the team, I have a soft spot for Pierre, and I really want to see him do well,” said Pastner. “He’s a fine young man, and I am proud of how hard he worked to get in shape to play this season and also how hard he worked in the classroom so that he can graduate in May.
Henderson-Niles no longer a member of Tigers basketball team {Go Tigers Go}
