Rakestraw set to transfer from UA
Posted on Tuesday, April 1, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE — Nate Rakestraw has requested and been granted his scholarship release from Arkansas ’ basketball team so he can transfer to another school.
P. D. Rakestraw, Nate’s father, confirmed his son met Monday with Razorbacks Coach John Pelphrey, who agreed to the scholarship release.
Pelphrey couldn’t be reached for comment Monday night.
Nate Rakestraw, a freshman guard, played a combined 33 minutes in 11 games this season after missing the first eight games because of a broken finger. He was 0 of 7 from the field, 0 of 2 from the free-throw line and had 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.
“I think Nate felt he could play in the SEC and play for Coach Pelphrey, but he understood that missing all the early games hurt him this year,” P. D. Rakestraw said. “He just wasn’t in Coach Pelphrey’s rotation.
“ He felt he could step in and play a bunch next year, but he didn’t get that confidence from Coach Pelphrey when they had their end of year meeting [Friday ].” P. D. Rakestraw said the family met over the weekend and decided it was best to ask for a scholarship release to begin the transfer process.
Pelphrey was hired from South Alabama to be Arkansas ’ coach last April, five months after Rakestraw signed a national letter of intent with then-Razorbacks Coach Stan Heath, who is now at South Florida.
Rakestraw averaged 19. 4 points as a senior at Springdale Har-Ber High School.
“Coach Pelphrey said he’d help him out any way he could,” P. D. Rakestraw said. “Nate is still going to work out with the team through the end of the school year.
“ Nate’s got no hard feelings... He understands he’s not Coach Pelphrey’s recruit and he thinks it’s just time for him to go and find another place to play.
“ He still loves the Razorbacks and would like to have stayed and been a Razorback if he felt like he was in Coach Pelphrey’s plans.” P. D. Rakestraw said he’s contacted Missouri and Oklahoma on his son’s behalf and that Oral Roberts and Missouri State have expressed interest. P. D. Rakestraw said he also plans to contact Heath at South Florida.
“Nate will be fine. We’ve got some other options, and we’ll move on with whatever makes Nate happy,” P. D. Rakestraw said. “We want him to go somewhere he can have a successful career.” If Rakestraw transfers to an NCAA Division II school, he would have immediate eligibility next season, but his father said the plan is to transfer to another Division I school and redshirt.
“He knows he has to sit out a year, and he’ll use that year to get stronger, faster and work on his game,” P. D. Rakestraw said. “He’s looking forward to the challenge.”
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