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Western Kentucky loses Kene Anyigbo, Eddie Alcantara to transfer

Western Kentucky v Kansas

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 22: Head coach Ray Harper of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers reacts in the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 22, 2013 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

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Western Kentucky head coach Ray Harper released a statement Sunday evening announcing the transfer of two players off last season’s roster in Kene Anyigbo and Eddie Alcantara.

“After multiple discussions with Kene and Eddie about their basketball futures, we have come to the decision that it is in the best interests of both of them to continue their playing careers elsewhere,” Harper said in the statement. “We thank them for their contributions to our program, and our doors will remain open to help them with the next step.”

The losses are minor for the Hilltoppers, who have won back-to-back Sun Belt Conference tournament championships. Anyigbo would’ve been a senior next season and never averaged more than 2.1 points and two rebounds in a season in his collegiate career. A 6-5 forward, Anyigbo contributed 1.9 points and two rebounds in 8.9 minutes per game this season.

Anyigbo spent the spring practicing at defensive end for Bobby Petrino on the Hilltopper football team, but was arrested on charges of marijuana possession and tampering charges. He plead guilty and served 100 hours of community service along with being sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation.

Alcantara, a Chicago native, spent just one season in Bowling Green, with the freshman struggling to gain minutes behind the likes of George Fant, O’Karo Akamune, Teeng Akol and Aleksejs Rostov, clocking 5.6 minutes per and finished with averages of 1.6 points and 1.3 rebounds and hitting 5-of-16 shots this season. He battled a shoulder injury throughout the latter half of the season.

“I believe that Eddie’s best days on the court are ahead of him,” Harper said about Alcantara. “His injury last season limited him, but he is one of the nicest kids I have ever had the privilege of coaching. We wish both of them much success in the future.”

Harper returns Fant, Akamune and Rostov, as well as adding two junior college transfers in 6-7 Aaron Adeoye and 6-10 Daouda Soumaoro and 6-9 incoming freshman Alassane Kah in the post for 2013-14.

Follow David Harten on Twitter at @David_Harten