UM picks up yet another basketball transfer

[Greenhead22]

June 30, 2005

Ex-Seton Hall guard transferring to Ole Miss in fall

By Michael Wallace
mwallace@clarionledger.com

OXFORD — Ole Miss has turned to the Division I transfer circuit to bolster its basketball roster yet again.

Former Seton Hall guard Justin Cerasoli informed the Ole Miss coaching staff on Wednesday that he plans to join the Rebels this fall.

Cerasoli, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound rising sophomore, requested and was granted a release from his scholarship with the Pirates on April 25. He is expected to submit his scholarship paperwork to Ole Miss by the end of the week.

Citing NCAA recruiting rules regarding yet-to-be signed prospects, Ole Miss coach Rod Barnes declined Wednesday to comment on Cerasoli. But Barnes did say his program has taken steps to improve the team's overall talent level this offseason.

"We really feel like we've added some guys who will come in and only help us get back to the level of success we've had here in previous years," Barnes said. "We've got some pieces in place."

Cerasoli played in 26 games this past season and drew 10 starts for the Big East Conference Pirates. He averaged 6.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in just under 22 minutes a game. Cerasoli led Seton Hall last season in free-throw shooting at 80.8 percent and was second in assists and third in blocks.

One of Cerasoli's best games came in a 77-68 loss to Connecticut on Jan. 17 when he finished with 10 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals.

Cerasoli must sit out the 2005-06 season under NCAA transfer rules. He will have three seasons of eligibility remaining starting with the 2006-07 season.

Cerasoli did not return messages left on his cell phone Wednesday by The Clarion-Ledger. In an interview posted Wednesday on rivals.com, a national recruiting Web site, Cerasoli said he was looking forward to getting a fresh start with the Rebels after playing in a point guard-by-committee system.

"Ole Miss is what I was looking for," Cerasoli told rivals.com "They have a very good team with a lot of potential. I think I could make them better."

Cerasoli, who was rated as highly as the nation's No. 16 point guard out of Chicago's Aurora High, is another product of the recent pipeline from the Windy City to Oxford. Ole Miss assistant and Chicago native Tracy Dildy recruits the Midwest extensively and has also worked at DePaul and Auburn.

Cerasoli joins two other Chicago natives on the Rebels' roster in incoming freshman forward Marquis Young and sophomore center Dwayne Curtis. Curtis, who sat out last season after transferring from Auburn, will be eligible to play this season.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Rod is taking a cue from Stans. Hey, if you can't beat em, join em.

[rebelduckaholic]

When it says he was released, does that mean he still has to sit out a year? Or does the release let him start this year.

[Greenhead22]

You have to sit out a year regardless, released or not. Released means that you can be put on ath scholarship during your sit out year. If not released you can't be put on scholly until the 2nd yr.

Only sport you can transfer in and play immediately is baseball with a release.

[rebelduckaholic]

I thought for some reason the spastic G Ervin was going to play this year.

[Greenhead22]

Nope, he'll have to sit out this coming season, which will be his redshirt year so he'll still have 2 yrs left after this coming one.

[rebelduckaholic]

Well I can't figure out why he would transfer. He started many of the last games as a true freshman. I just hope he is not some spastic booty no shootin ball hoggin Gary Friggin Ervin. Also if he redshirts this year then he will have 3 years of eligibility left.