Former Louisville Forward Sydney Curry Commits to Grand Canyon
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Another former member of the Louisville men’s basketball program is heading out west to the Grand Canyon State.
Forward Sydney Curry, who entered the transfer portal a week after the Cardinals' 2022-23 season ended, announced Wednesday that he has committed to Grand Canyon University. Curry is the second former Card to transfer to school in the state of Arizona, after Kamari Lands picked Arizona State.
Curry is also the sixth overall to find his new home. Jae'Lyn Withers is staying in the ACC and transferred to North Carolina, El Ellis pulled a stunner and committed to Arkansas, while Devin Ree and Roosevelt Wheeler both opted to head back home, choosing Louisiana Tech and VCU, respectively. Only Fabio Basili has yet to find a transfer destination.
Heading into head coach Kenny Payne's first year at the helm, there was real optimism surrounding Curry. During his first season with the Cardinals in 2021-22, the former JUCO product averaged 7.1 points and 4.4 rebounds for the season, and put up 17.6 points and 9.0 rebounds in the final five games of the year.
However, the 6-foot-8, 270-pound forward struggled immensely at times this past season. He played in all 32 games with 25 starts, but averaged just 4.9 points and 4.3 rebounds over 17.5 minutes per game, while shooting 53.3 percent from the field.
Prior to his two years at Louisville, he spent his first two season in college in the JUCO ranks at John A. Logan College. In his sophomore season, Curry averaged 12.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while also shooting 69.4 percent from the field. He was named the 2020-21 Great Rivers Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
The Cardinals went just 4-28 this past season in their first year under head coach Kenny Payne, and roster management has been in full swing since the end of their season. Only Mike James, J.J. Traynor, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and Emmanuel Okorafor are returning for year two under Payne
Conversely, Payne and his staff have been hard at work attempting to bring in fresh talent for next season. They are set to bring in transfers Skyy Clark, Tre White and Danilo Jovanovich; 2023 prospects Dennis Evans, Trentyn Flowers, Kaleb Glenn and Curtis Williams Jr.; plus JUCO transfer Koron Davis.
(Photo of Sydney Curry: Brad Penner - USA TODAY Sports)
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