Former Hawkeye Starter Will Transfer to West Virginia
After Iowa was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in their first-round, upset loss to Richmond, the Hawkeye basketball program only had the metaphorical salt poured in its wounds over the coming weeks.
Though Keegan Murray's decision to enter his name into the NBA draft was expected, the departure of Joe Toussaint and Josh Ogundele via the transfer portal took Iowa fans everywhere by surprise.
In a statement the point guard shared on Twitter, he said his choice to leave came in order "to pursue an expanded role at another institution."
Now, less than two weeks later, the former Hawk has made his decision. Toussaint will use his remaining two years of eligibility to play for Bob Huggins and the West Virginia Mountaineers.
It was speculated by many that the Bronx, New York native would make his way back east to be closer to family, but not a place as far south as Morgantown, West Virginia.
As David Eickholt, Hawkeye Insider for 247Sports.com told me earlier this month on Cornstalks and Sports Talk (which you should check out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or live on Saturday mornings on AM950 or KOEL.com):
(Toussaint's) grandma wasn't able to see him play throughout his college career. A team I really like and I've heard has been very interested is St. John's.
Eickholt added that decision to leave did make sense because Toussaint would likely be in the same role should he have decided to stay in Iowa City:
He started each of his past two years at times, and he's been moved back to the bench both of those years as well. He's a guy who probably wants to play 25 to 30 minutes a night. With who they have coming back and Iowa probably going into the portal for a guard, he was probably going to have that same sixth-man, seventh-man role. ... I think it was a mutual parting of ways. I think Fran (McCaffrey) and company get it.
Toussant was a highly-touted, four-star recruit that came to Iowa City and received significant playing time right away. He played in 30+ games each season he's played for the Hawkeyes and started 20 his freshman season along with 20 this year.
In what was largely a successful 2021-2022 season for the Iowa basketball program, Toussaint averaged 4.3 points over 17.3 minutes per game. He stole the ball a team-high and career-high 51 times.