Penn State officially confirmed Wednesday afternoon that sophomore forward Patrick Ackerman and freshman guard Akosa Maduegbunam will transfer from the program.
“As I do every year, I talked with each of our players at end the season to evaluate where they are and to set a course for success in their future,” Penn State coach Patrick Chambers said in a release. “Patrick and Akosa have decided to seek opportunities elsewhere. First and foremost, we want what is best for our student-athletes. We thank Patrick and Akosa for their contribution to our program, wish them the very best, and will try to assist them in anyway we can.”
Ackerman, who was suspended earlier in the season for a violation of team rules, saw little significant action playing in very few games while averaging .6 points a contest. While at Penn State, Ackerman has scored four baskets for the Nittany Lions but was a positive, high energy presence off the court.
Maduegbunam will leave Penn State after becoming the first commitment under Chambers’ tenure in State College. The Boston native saw significant action in only one game this year, playing for 18 minutes against Purdue while going 1-of-4 from the field for two points. Chambers also recruited Maduegbunam while head coach at Boston University.
The departure from Penn State opens up two scholarships for the Nittany Lions putting them one below the NCAA limit.
Prior to Wednesday afternoon’s announcement Penn State was one scholarship over the NCAA limit for 2013-14. Originally the Nittany Lions were slated to be a full roster with five new players joining the team in 2013. The injury and planned return of senior guard Tim Frazier next season then bumped the number of scholarship players beyond the allotted threshold.
The transfers of Maduegbunam and Ackerman open up enough space for Frazier’s return and allow for an additional scholarship player to join the team this coming season or potentially in 2014.
