As you know, Dwayne Polee II, the skinny jumping jack who was Steve Lavin's first recruit to the St. John's program, decided to transfer from the Red Storm program to be closer to his sick mother... though the playing time crunch at the wing was also a factor.
Polee has picked his transfer destination, choosing to go to San Diego State per his Twitter and Johnny Jungle. He'll be coached by Steve Fisher (yes, he of Fab Five fame) has built a solid program out west, one that was probably the best in California last season, despite playing in the Mountain West Conference. Polee had interest from the UNLV Runnin' Rebels as well.
Dwayne Polee Jr. joins Utah transfer J.J. O`Brien as transfers to the Aztecs program (who play the wing).
From back when Dwayne accepted the scholarship to St. John's:
A nice get for Steve Lavin, but some people get a little excited about a raw player who was recruited by lower-level high majors (and also by Tim Floyd at USC). Polee needs a little work, according to reports, and needs to develop his basketball skills. Right now, he's a dunker with shot blocking skills.
And in Dwayne Polee Jr's Red Storm in Review post:
...all that athleticism and jumping is in serious need of strength, no matter what position... and where does he belong, anyway?...
I am excited to see what Polee comes out of the summer's training. He's obviously got skill and length, quickness and tenacity. But he needs to improve at a position instead of being the ultimate in tweener. There are a lot of players who would love Polee's minutes, and it's up to Dwayne Polee to decide to be excellent.
We wish Polee luck, and will be watching to see if he gets a transfer waiver to play immediately. The other transfer wing J.J. O'Brien, will sit out the upcoming year; he's from Rancho Cucamonga, about two hours from San Diego, about the same distance as Polee is from San Diego in Los Angeles. It seems like a stretch to call that "close to home" when there are numerous Los Angeles schools, but it is a fairly short train/ car ride between the two cities when there's no traffic.
We shall see what the NCAA rules, and hope that Polee's family gets healthy and Dwayne finds what he needs. He's got a lot of talent.