<
>

Departure from Indiana opens spot for juco transfer

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Forward Xavier Keeling is leaving
Indiana and guard Joey Shaw is considering a move to another
school.

The 6-foot-6 Keeling averaged 1.8 points during his freshman
season.

"He just told me he wanted to play a little closer to home,"
Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson said Tuesday. "We talked about his
season and his future. Xavier is a great kid and I wish him nothing
but the best."

Keeling, of Huntsville, Ala., was recruited to IU by Mike Davis,
now the coach at Alabama-Birmingham.

Shaw, a 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman shooting guard from Glendale,
Ariz., averaged 4.5 points and 12.9 minutes of playing time.

Keeling's departure opens a scholarship for junior college
player DeAndre Thomas, who has given Sampson a verbal commitment.
Thomas is among six new players expected to join the Hoosiers for
Sampson's second season.

Thomas, power forward from Chipola (Fla.) College, can sign a
letter of intent in the spring signing period that begins April 11.