So why exactly did Michael Loyd transfer?

Earlier this spring, BYU's Michael Loyd, Jr., made one of the stranger transfer decisions.

Loyd just finished his sophomore season, but since he redshirted a year already, the only way that he can transfer and avoid losing a year of eligibility is by finishing his career at a DII school. All the more puzzling is that Loyd had just finished a sophomore season that saw him flourish when Jimmer Fredette was out. He made a name for himself nationally when he went for 26 points against Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Originally, it was believed that Loyd left because he didn't fit in at BYU. The school's honor code is notoriously strict, and guys with mohawks and tongue piercings aren't that common at the Mormon School.

Michael Loyd won't be suiting up for BYU next year.
(photo credit: SLC Tribune)

But on Friday, the Salt Lake Tribune reported that Loyd has had a few brushes with the law during his time at BYU. The lightening quick, 5'11" point guard has racked up at least seven speeding tickets in the last 26 months and was also cited for driving with a denied license and failure to show proof of insurance. The biggest issue came just hours after BYU lost to then-No. 6 Wake Forest back in January of 2009. He was pulled over and arrested for possession of alcohol by a minor and possession of a controlled substance (weed).

If the speeding tickets didn't violate BYU's honor code, the arrest for the booze and the pot certainly did. The honor code explicitly outlaws the use of alcohol and illicit drugs.

But if you are to believe the athletic department and the coaching staff, they had no idea about Loyd's run-ins with law enforcement. A team spokesman said "[n]either Dave Rose nor his coaching staff are aware of any of the matters [The Salt Lake Tribune] inquired about regarding Michael Loyd Jr."

BYU is sticking by the story that Loyd was released for "accountability and responsibility" issues. Apparently, he was skipping class, skipping tutoring sessions, and constantly late for team meetings. Loyd also said that he was academically eligible and not in violation of the school's honor code, but that it was a "constant struggle" for him.

Its too bad.

Loyd was a heck of a player, and if the Cougars were to team him and Fredette they would have one of the most dynamic back courts out west.

Instead, Loyd is stuck deciding whether to transfer -- to a DII school to play two more year, or to a DI school and lose a year of eligibility -- or to turn professional and head to Europe.

Continue reading...

UPDATE: BYU's Michael Loyd, Jr., to transfer

Anyone that watched BYU beat Florida 99-92 in double overtime in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament this year knows that Cougar sophomore Michael Loyd, Jr., can play.

Anyone that watched the Cougars throughout the year knows that that game was no fluke.

And today, BYU head coach announced that Loyd will be leaving the BYU program.

Michael Loyd, Jr., is transferring from BYU.
(photo credit: Daylife)

"Michael and I have met several times and we have mutually decided he will continue his education and basketball career in another program," Rose said in a news release. "He has been a significant part of our success the last three seasons and we are grateful for his many contributions. As a staff, we wish him the best and will do all we can to help Michael find a great situation."

Loyd spent the last two seasons backing up Jimmer Fredette, averaging just 5.1 ppg as a sophomore. Those numbers, however, were more a result of a lack of playing time and shots to go around. Fredette is scoring point guard, the kind of player who dominates possession of the ball.

The same with Loyd. Fredette missed a lot of time this year, and when given the opportunity, Loyd didn't disappoint. He scored 17 points against Eastern New Mexico in a game Fredette sat out. He went for 19 and 18 against New Mexico and Utah, respectively, when Fredette was battling his myriad of injuries and illnesses. And, of course, there was the 26 point outburst against Florida.

Loyd is a lightening bug of a point guard that can score in a hurry, can get into the paint, and has range on his jumper. And while his production off the bench is going to be missed, perhaps it is a positive sign for Cougar fans. Fredette currently has his name in the pool for early entry into the NBA Draft. Could Loyd's defection signal a return to school by Fredette? (For what its worth, Fredette has made it fairly clear that he is returning. But until those paper's are signed, anything is possible.)

Whatever the case may be, the one thing I know for certain is that the team that lands Michael Loyd, Jr., is going to be getting a talented player.

UPDATE: Apparently, this decision is catching everyone by surprise. A source that Yahoo's Jeff Eisenberg spoke too wasn't even aware of Loyd's decision to leave until Eisenberg told him.

What makes it all the more puzzling is that Loyd is a redshirt sophomore, which means that the year he sits out as a result of that transfer will cost him a year of eligibility. Wherever he ends up, Loyd will only be playing one more season of college basketball.

We'll be keeping an eye on this over the coming days.

UPDATE II: From the Salt Lake Tribune:

Insiders say Loyd was finding it harder and harder to fit in his third year than it was his first or second, for reasons probably only he can address. And BYU coaches were finding it harder and harder to look past some of Loyd’s actions.

Loyd wasn’t forced out, but he was given some ultimatums in regards to behavior, dress and appearance that he apparently decided he just couldn’t abide by.

Let’s put it this way: showing up on national television with a mohawk haircut for BYU’s NCAA Tournament games, or playing against Utah with a tongue piercing, probably didn’t help his cause.

Continue reading...