Michigan Basketball: Ricky Doyle Granted Release from Wolverines
By Matt Snyder
Ricky Doyle will play elsewhere next season after being granted release from his scholarship from the Michigan basketball program.
The Michigan basketball program announced today that sophomore center Ricky Doyle was granted a release from his athletic scholarship at the university at his request. Doyle will be free to pursue scholarship opportunities at other schools for his remaining seasons of eligibility.
This is the second such announcement that has come today as Spike Albrecht previously announced that he will transfer from Michigan as a graduate student after being granted a medical redshirt waiver from the NCAA.
MGoBlue.com had the following statement from coach John Beilein today:
"“Ricky is a tremendous young man with very high character and plenty of potential to develop into being a fine college player,” said Beilein. “We have enjoyed coaching him over the past two years and wish him nothing but the best.”"
More from Michigan Wolverines
- Betting Preview: Best Bets for Michigan vs. Ohio State Rivalry
- Michigan Coach Shockingly Fired as Sign-Stealing Scandal Continues
- Betting Preview: Best Bets for Michigan vs. Penn State
- Known Blowhard Paul Finebaum Makes Ridiculous Michigan Prediction about National Championship
- Michigan Wolverines New Betting Favorite to Win National Championship
and from Doyle:
"“Coach Beilein took a chance on me and I will forever be grateful for that. It was a difficult decision for me to make, however, I just feel this is the best decision moving forward. I will forever carry a special place in my heart for the Maize and Blue. Go Blue!”"
While those are all very nice things to say about each other, it was clear that Doyle’s future with the Wolverines would be limited.
After showing some raw potential as a freshman, Doyle failed to take a step forward in his development in 2015-16 and was clearly the third option going forward behind Mark Donnal and wunderkind Moritz Wagner.
The Wolverines will get Doyle’s scholarship back, but that will merely bring their scholarship numbers back to even with the players returning and incoming freshman class.
Ricky Doyle's transfer now leaves Michigan with 13 scholarship players for the 2016-17 season. Program had been one over the limit.
— Brendan Quinn (@BFQuinn) March 29, 2016
Next: 20 Best NBA Draft Picks from Michigan
Michigan’s 2016 recruiting class includes two centers among the four commits (ESPN 4-star Jon Teske and ESPN 3-star Austin Davis). The class is headlined by point guard Xavier Simpson who has been named an ESPN Top 100 recruit.