Royce Woolridge to Transfer from Kansas

April 15, 2011

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas coach Bill Self confirmed Friday that guard Royce Woolridge will transfer from KU following the spring 2011 semester.

“When Royce and I met after the season, we talked openly and honestly of the potential role he would have for our team moving forward,” Self said. “After the meeting he wanted to visit with his family. He then came back to me yesterday and said he wanted his release and was seeking to transfer.”

As a freshman this past season, Woolridge played in 15 games for Kansas and averaged 2.8 minutes and 0.6 points per contest. The Phoenix, Ariz., native played in six Big 12 contests and was member of the fall 2010 Athletic Director’s and Big 12 Commissioner’s honor rolls where he maintained a minimum 3.0 grade point average.

“Royce works hard and is deserving of an opportunity to play more,” Self said. “Although his play was limited this season, he did have an impact on our team. We wish him nothing but the best and we know he will do well wherever he attends. He is a good teammate and a great student.”

“I love Kansas, but I just really want to play (more),” Woolridge said. “I feel like I will have more of an opportunity to play if I went somewhere else. I haven’t chosen a school (at this time).”

“The KU coaches have taught me so much,” Woolridge said. “Coach Self is an amazing coach. All the assistant coaches have taught me a ton this year. I’ve learned more about basketball that I had no idea about. I look at basketball from a whole different perspective because of the coaches. I really understand it more.”

“I want to thank all of my teammates,” Woolridge added. “They are family. I want to thank the fans. They have been amazing. I didn’t even play and they still showed me a lot of love and accepted me as part of the KU family and I appreciate that. I want to thank the wives of the coaches for helping me. My mom was back in Phoenix (during the season) and they helped me from that standpoint.”

“Kansas made me better, no doubt,” Woolridge said. “I am so much better and this place helped me become more of a man and I appreciate everything it has done for me.”

Woolridge, son of former NBA star Orlando Woolridge, came to KU from Sunnyslope High School in Phoenix, where he averaged 30.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists his senior season. Woolridge’s Sunnyslope team won the 4A state title his junior year and finished runner-up his senior season in 2009-10.