Sidiki Johnson
Arizona Wildcats freshman center Sidiki Johnson, whose suspension from the team was announced Nov. 21, has left the program and will transfer, the UA announced Sunday afternoon.
Johnson, from the Bronx, N.Y., appeared in only three games, totaling seven minutes. He had one point and two rebounds.
Coach Sean Miller, who has said in the past couple of weeks that he was not optimistic that Johnson would return to the team, was not quoted in UA’s press released Sunday.
Johnson did not return with the team after it played Mississippi State in the championship game of the 2K Sports Classic in New York City on Nov. 18. Miller said it was the coaches’ decision to let Johnson stay at home as he was suspended for violations of team policy.
Johnson (6-8, 235) returned to Tucson last weekend but did not rejoin practices. The press release did not mention Johnson’s academic status.
He was part of a touted four-man class that included point guard Josiah Turner, shooting guard Nick Johnson and big man Angelo Chol.
“Sidiki Johnson is someone from a physical perspective — rebounding, giving us quality minutes, developing as our season grows — who we were really counting on to complement the big guys that we already have,” Miller said last weekend. “Him not being with us is not a positive.”
Miller has increasingly been playing with a small three-guard lineup, with 6-6 Solomon Hill at power forward and 6-7 Jesse Perry at center.
Arizona (6-2) will play at No. 10 Florida on Wednesday. The game will be televised by ESPN at 5 p.m. Tucson time.