Kentucky forward Kyle Wiltjer is considering transferring to another college to play basketball, and it disappoints coach John Calipari. In an odd move, both Wiltjer and Calipari issued letters discussing the possible transfer, USA Today Sports reports.
Wiltjer, a 2012 national champion with Kentucky, ranks 15th on Kentucky's all-time three-point percentage list. He averaged 10.2 points and 4.2 rebounds to earn the 2013 SEC Sixth Man of the Year award.
His letter was posted on the school's official athletic website.
"Now as I head into my junior year, I recognize that my new and adjusted goals require me to make some very difficult upcoming decisions," he wrote, according to USA Today Sports. "... During this next year, I will be working on my body so that I am able to compete the way I know I can. I want to find a situation that will help me do this as well as play a more significant role, wherever that may be. Even though I might physically leave Lexington, I will never forget the support and kindness that everyone has shown my family and me.
"...It is difficult to put into words how hard it is to possibly leave."
The 20-year-old junior seems concerned about playing time. He lost his starting job after just nine games last season and went on to average 17 minutes per game. Finding time on the court could be even more difficult next season with eight incoming freshmen, six of whom are McDonald's All-Americans.
Wiltjer recently returned from China, where he helped Canada's developmental national team to a 9-0 record at the Four Nations tournament. Calipari's letter, which was posted on his person website, said he spoke with Wiltjer upon his return.
"After playing with Canada, Kyle feels like he could have a more prominent role in another program than he might have with us next season," Calipari wrote. "In my mind, Kyle is going to be a professional player as soon as his body begins to change. He has a mentality, a skill set and the length to be a pro, but the maturity of his body has not caught up with the rest of his game yet. He knows that and he's working on that.
"Kyle went from being the seventh man on the national championship team to the Sixth Man of the Year in the SEC, and I felt like over the next few years he was going to develop into the player I know he will eventually become. Unfortunately, that may happen somewhere else.
"...Kyle's choice to explore other options at another school disappoints me. ...If he does chose to go somewhere else, that school will be very lucky."
Calipari stressed he doesn't want Wiltjer to transfer, but would support the decision. He concluded his letter by wishing Wiltjer the "best of luck."
It's unusual for coaches and players to publically discuss transferring schools. Neither letter definitively says a transfer will happen, and it's uncertain if Wiltjer already has another school in mind.
