According to head coach Josh Pastner and GoTigersGo.com, the University of Memphis Tigers have parted ways with senior power-forward Pierre Henderson-Niles for the rest of the season. Henderson-Niles, who started 16 games this year and played in all 23, averaged 5.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
“This is nothing negative. He didn’t do anything against the law or anything like that,” Pastner told ESPN.com on Monday night. “I like the young man. I have a soft spot for him. It was just at this point, we both agree it’s time to go forward.”
The loss of Henderson-Niles comes only one game after the Tigers thought they were gaining depth with the return of Angel Garicia. For one game, the Tigers had their full complement of eight scholarship players, but have once again been quickly reduced to seven. In the official press release, the school gave no indications as to why Henderson-Niles and the Tigers were parting ways.
“He’s a fine young man, and I am proud of how hard he worked to get in shape to play this season and also how hard he worked in the classroom so that he can graduate in May,” Pastner said in a statement released on GoTigersGo.com.
After hovering closer to the 20-minutes-per-game range, Henderson-Niles hadn’t played more than 15 in his last four games. After Memphis’ stunning loss to SMU – a game in which he did not score and had two rebounds in 13 minutes – a frustrated Henderson-Niles posted on his Facebook, “Wanna give dis (stuff) up after yesterday.”
Henderson-Niles’ decision leaves the Tigers with only seven scholarship players for the stretch run.
“There’s no question it puts us in a bind,” Pastner said. “I don’t like losing anybody, but it’s what we’ve got to deal with. We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do.”
Stay tuned to Memphis Roar as we will bring you more details in the coming hours.
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