With coaching changes come roster overhauls, with some holdovers deciding that a new start at another school would be best for them. That’s certainly been the case at USF, with the program having bid farewell to four players since head coach Stan Heath was let go last month.
According to Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times two players made the decision to leave the program on Saturday, guards Javontae Hawkins and Musa Abdul-Aleem. That news came on the same day that new head coach Oliver Antigua landed a second commitment in the form of guard Dinero Mercurius.
Hawkins, who has two years of eligibility remaining, averaged 3.7 points in 12 minutes of action per contest for the Bulls in 2013-14. Abdul-Aleem, who according to Knight’s story is a graduating senior, played in 18 games last season and averaged 4.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in just under 13 minutes of action per game.
That tandem joins guard Josh Heath (Georgia Tech) and forward Zach LeDay as players who have decided to leave the USF program since Stan Heath’s dismissal. According to multiple reports the Bulls are in the running for the services of former Marshall point guard Kareem Canty, who was a third team All-Conference USA selection in his lone season of play there.