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Kansas State Point Guard Angel Rodriguez has decided to transfer from the program in order to be closer to his mom and two brothers and home.
Jorge MilIan from the Palm Beach Post reports that the Canes could very well be in play for Rodriguez's services.
Heard today that UM has good shot with point guard Angel Rodriguez, who is transferring from K-State. Would be a major get.
— Jorge Milian (@caneswatch) April 22, 2013
Rodriguez is a native of Puerto Rico, but played his high school ball in Miami. Rodriguez helped lead Kansas State to a share of the Big 12 regular season championship and an NCAA tournament birth this past season. He averaged 11 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds and nearly 2 steals a game on 36% shooting (34% from 3 point range), in 28 minutes of action a night for the Wildcats this past season.
Rodriguez would have to sit out a year (I believe)***, but would have two years of eligibility remaining beginning in the 2014-15 season.
We will continue to update this as more information becomes available.
***There is some talk, most of it unsubstantiated at the moment, that Rodriguez will be applying for a waiver to play immediately. Whether or not he gets one is another question.***
UPDATE, VIA BARRY JACKSON OF THE MIAMI HERALD.
Second team Big 12 PG Angel Rodriguez's move from K-State to UM looking increasingly likely. His Miami Tropics coach, Art Alvarez,...
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) April 23, 2013
... tells me Rodriguez wants to go to UM and UM has said it's interested. He will visit campus very soon.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) April 23, 2013
... He would be required to sit out 2013-14 but would have two seasons of eligibility left. Alvarez said he reminds him of NBA's J.J. Barea.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) April 23, 2013
Perhaps the most important part of those tweets by Jackson is that Rodriguez would have to sit out a season. I assume no official decision has been made regarding a waiver for Rodriguez, but it's intriguing nonetheless.
UPDATE, VIA ISAAC (Yes, that's me!) ON 4/24
Spoke to somebody last night who told me that Adrian Diaz and Angel Rodriguez are trying to transfer to the same university. Miami did not initially reach out to Diaz, but Diaz reached out to Miami. It's unknown at this time if Miami has interest, but contact has been made between the two sides. Diaz is a 6'10" power forward who also played his high school ball in Miami.
Regardless, I don't believe that Miami's willingness to accept Diaz will impact whether or not Rodriguez ultimately chooses the Canes. (This is my own input, not from my source).
UPDATE, VIA JORGE MILIAN OF THE PALM BEACH POST 4/26
Also, unless the unexpected happens, Angel Rodriguez is going to be a Hurricane. As good as done.
— Jorge Milian (@caneswatch) April 26, 2013
The only question at this point seems to be whether or not Rodriguez will receive a waiver from the NCAA to play immediately for the Canes. I can't provide a timetable on that decision, unfortunately, but I will update you all when information becomes available.