Blaise Beauchamp leaving Evansville men's basketball program
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — One of the few holdovers from the previous University of Evansville men’s basketball regime has decided to leave nine games into a new season.
Junior guard Blaise Beauchamp is no longer with the program, UE announced Friday afternoon. He provided the Purple Aces with perimeter shooting off the bench and paced them with 14 made 3-pointers thus far.
UE stated in a news release Beauchamp's departure was mutual.
“After speaking with his family, Blaise and I came to the conclusion that it was in his best interest to pursue future opportunities outside of the University of Evansville,” Purple Aces coach David Ragland said in the release. “We fully support this decision and wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”
The 6-foot-3 guard told the Courier & Press his decision came down to a talk with his family and that he intends to enter the transfer portal.
"The staff is a great group of guys and I appreciate all the time and effort they have put into me and the program thus far," Beauchamp wrote in a text message. "Some things just don’t work out or align with everyone’s vision, but I love the guys and wish nothing but the best for everyone involved in the program."
More:Diamonds at last: Blaise Beauchamp hits winning shot to snap Evansville's losing streak
Beauchamp scored a season-high 18 points last weekend against South Alabama and then hit the game-winning shot against Robert Morris the next day during the Aces' multi-team event in Savannah, Georgia. He was averaging 8.6 points, making him the Aces' third-leading scorer behind Kenny Strawbridge Jr. and Yacine Toumi. But he's been coming off the bench as one of the Aces' top options after starting 10 games last year.
He began his career at Lincoln Trail College, a junior college in Illinois, before making the jump to Division I to play under Todd Lickliter. The Minnetonka, Minnesota, native was UE's top returning scorer from last year. With the coaching change, he could have left the program after the one-time transfer deadline, but decided to stay.
Another returner from last year, Trey Hall, also originally decided to remain with UE under Ragland before ultimately "shifting his collegiate focus to academics" before the season began.
UE (2-7, 0-1) faces Northern Iowa (2-4, 0-1) on the road in its second Missouri Valley Conference game at 1 p.m. Saturday.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Blaise Beauchamp leaving Evansville men's basketball program
