In his first season playing for the Alabama basketball program, redshirt junior guard Ricky Tarrant played in 19 games before suffering a season-ending ruptured plantar fascia in his foot in late January. Those 19 games, 13 of which were starts, will be the only games Tarrant plays in an Alabama uniform as it was announced by the school that he’s decided to transfer.
Tarrant, who began his college career at Tulane before transferring to Alabama, will have one year of eligibility remaining and there is the possibility that he’ll be able to do so as a graduate student. If that’s the case, Tarrant would be eligible immediately in 2015-16.
In the release, new Alabama head coach Avery Johnson sounded as if he wanted Tarrant to stay but ultimately understood the guard’s decision.
“I met with Ricky on Wednesday and shared with him that we wanted him back next season,” Johnson said in the release. “We told him it would be competitive but he would have the opportunity and we would help him get better so he can reach his goals. There were no gray areas and everything was crystal clear. He wanted to talk it over with his family and once he did that, he called back and asked us for his release yesterday, which we granted.
“As a new coaching staff, we understand that these things can happen. It is not a bad reflection on Ricky or anyone else. He has to do what’s in his best interests and we wish him nothing but the best of luck.”
Tarrant averaged 13.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game for the Crimson Tide last season, and as a sophomore at Tulane in 2012-13 he was a second team All-Conference USA selection.