Missouri sophomore forward D’Angelo Allen will transfer

Eager for more playing time, Missouri sophomore forward D’Angelo Allen has decided to seek it with another program.

The Tigers released a statement Monday from coach Kim Anderson, announcing that they will honor Allen’s transfer request.

“D’Angelo Allen has made it known to the Mizzou men’s basketball program his intention to transfer, and we will support his request,” Anderson said in a statement. “D’Angelo and I met and he expressed his desire to play a larger role. We agreed he can begin to seek opportunities to achieve his goals elsewhere. We appreciate D’Angelo’s contributions during his time with the program and will work to assist him in any way possible.”

Allen, a 6-foot-7 reserve from Kimball High in Dallas, did not appear in the Tigers’ 84-69 loss Saturday against Texas A&M at Mizzou Arena. It was the sixth game this season he was a healthy scratch.

Allen also missed one game due to illness.

“I met with D’Angelo this morning and have talked with him over time,” Anderson said. “I think he just wants to play more, so this is an opportunity for him to transfer and perhaps play more in another program.”

As a freshman, Allen appeared in 32 games, including eight starts, and averaged 17 minutes per contest, chipping in 3.3 points and 3.1 rebounds.

Allen’s role had diminished as a sophomore. He hasn’t played more than 10 minutes in any game since Jan. 27 at Kentucky and currently averages 2.0 points and 1.9 rebounds in 8 minutes per game.

Missouri self-imposed a postseason ban and scholarship reduction in 2015-16 last month and also announced it would forfeit one more scholarship in either 2016-17 or 2017-18.

The Tigers have nine scholarship players returning next season on the current roster and signed three incoming freshman in November.

Coupled with junior guard Wes Clark’s dismissal earlier in the month, Allen’s imminent departure frees up a scholarship for next season. It could be used to sign a player or to satisfy the self-imposed scholarship reduction.

“Obviously, there’s the self-imposed scholarship reduction,” Anderson said, “so at this point it’s probably way too early to say what we’d do with that scholarship.”

Allen’s name no longer appears on Missouri’s online roster, a strong indication that he won’t play in the season’s final two games Tuesday at LSU and Saturday against Florida at Mizzou Arena, but there was no official word on his status.

This story was originally published February 29, 2016 at 11:58 AM with the headline "Missouri sophomore forward D’Angelo Allen will transfer."