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UIC adds a guard in Purdue transfer Kelsey Barlow

Kelsey Barlow, Brandon Boggs

Purdue guard Kelsey Barlow, left, goes over Western Carolina guard Brandon Boggs for a shot in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

AP

In a press release on Thursday afternoon UIC announced the addition of former Purdue guard Kelsey Barlow, who was dismissed from the Boilermaker squad late in the 2011-12 season.

Barlow played three seasons in West Lafayette and will be able to take the floor for the Flames in 2013 after sitting out this season per NCAA transfer rules.

“We’re excited to bring a player of Kelsey’s caliber into our program,” said UIC head coach Howard Moore in the release. “I coached against Kelsey during his great freshman season when I was at Wisconsin, and have always been impressed with his skill-set.

“He will be a great asset to our younger players every day in practice during his transfer year and as a senior (2013-14), I expect him to be one of the better players in the Horizon League.”

Barlow averaged 8.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game as a junior last season, starting 22 of the 26 games in which he played.

But there were also some disciplinary issues for Barlow, with a verbal altercation at a West Lafayette drinking establishment being the final straw for head coach Matt Painter.

There’s little doubt that from a talent standpoint Barlow will help UIC, both when he’s able to take the floor in 2013-14 and as a practice player this season.

And with UIC coming off of an eight-win season (3-15 Horizon League), adding a player like Barlow who has experience in a winning program could pay dividends.

But that only happens if Barlow has learned from his previous mistakes. Let’s hope that’s the case.

“Kelsey’s transfer to UIC will be very beneficial for both him and our program,” noted Moore. “He is excited and humbled about this next phase of his college basketball career, and to be a teammate again.

“Kelsey is a kid with great character, and my discussions and interactions with him have proven that. We’re excited for him to join our team.”

Raphielle is also the assistant editor at CollegeHoops.net and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.