“We were surprised and caught off guard by Kelvin’s timing in deciding to transfer after a little over a week of practice and three games since becoming eligible,” said head coach Tom Herrion. “We wish him the best in the future.”
Amayo arrived at Marshall last January when he was ruled academically ineligible at Townson University. After sitting out a year and gaining eligibility, the New Jersey native played his first game in a Thundering Herd uniform on December 22nd against Kentucky. A non scholarship walk-on, Amayo averaged 2.7 points in 9.3 minutes of play during his three game Marshall career.
In a official release from the athletic department Amayo stated a desire to be closer to home (Newark New Jersey ) as his reason for transferring. “I want to thank Marshall University for giving me a chance,” Amayo said. “I just wanted to be closer to home.”
Although, in a interview with SNY T.V.'s ZagsBlog.com, Amayo indicated that he was promised a scholarship this semester which did not come to fruition.
“I want to thank Marshall University but they didn’t have an athletic scholarship for me and that wasn’t the deal we made,” Amayo told SNY.tv.
Speaking with Rick McCann of the Herald Dispatch, Herrion made it clear that Amayo was promised a scholarship next year, not this semester.
"After not showing up today for practice, later in the day Kelvin informed me via text that he has decided to transfer," Herrion said. "It has been brought to my attention that there is some sort of miscommunication.
"There was never a promise of any athletic scholarship for this academic year."
Marshall has been looking for consistent point guard play all season and Amayo's transfer further depletes a thin unit. In last Saturday's 37 point blowout loss at Ohio, Herrion used four players, Amayo, DeAndre Kane, Chris Martin and Tamron Manning to run the Herds offense but they combined for seven turnovers and only six assist.
Amayo's transfer adds another layer of frustration to Marshall's basketball season. The Herd returned to the hardwood last Wednesday after a ten day layoff and lost consecutive games to Delaware State and Ohio, dropping their record to 7-8.
Marshall opens conference play at home against Tulsa on Wednesday, tip-off is scheduled for 7pm.
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