Wiggins to transfer

Doug Wiggins, a sophomore guard on the UConn men’s basketball team, asked for permission to be released from his scholarship and will transfer from UConn, Huskies coach Jim Calhoun confirmed in a statement Tuesday evening.

"I completely respect Doug's decision," Calhoun said. "He has contributed to many successes for us in his time here. We will do everything we can to help him finish school in good standing this semester and move on to a place where he will be happy. I appreciate him for the time that he was here with us and wish him the best of luck in the future."

Wiggins, a 20-year-old East Hartford native, averaged 6.7 points in 31 games off the bench this season for UConn. He was suspended for two games in late January after UConn police caught him and teammate Jerome Dyson with alcohol while parked in an on-campus parking lot.

Wiggins was allowed to return to the team after passing an athletics department-mandated drug test. He had reportedly failed two earlier tests in his Husky career, including one prior to the season. Dyson, however, failed his test, marking the second time since coming to UConn, and served a 30-day suspension.

Calhoun made it known in late March that he expected changes to be around the program, with as many as four to five new players coming in next season. With two open scholarships available — both of which going to incoming guards Kemba Walker and Scottie Haralson — that meant at least two current scholarship players would have to leave.

Wiggins averaged 18.9 minutes a game this past season, but with the introduction of Walker, a McDonald’s All-American, and Haralson to a backcourt that already includes A.J. Price (coming off ACL surgery), Jerome Dyson, Craig Austrie and Donnell Beverly, there was the possibility he would see less time.

"It was not our intention to put out a release at this point," said UConn spokesman Kyle Muncy. "But obviously Dougie wanted it to get out."