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.