(Xavier Athletics Photo)
Xavier sophomore guard KyKy Tandy has apparently had a change of heart and will return to the Cincinnati school for his junior season.
Adam Baum, an Xavier beat writer in Cincinnati, reported Friday afternoon that Tandy was leaving the transfer portal and returning to Xavier, according to Xavier Coach Travis Steele.
The University Heights Academy alum earned All-Big East freshman honors last year after scoring 6.7 points and shooting 38-percent from the field in 18 minutes of action while splitting time between point guard and shooting guard.
Tandy got off to a strong start this year, averaging 14.8 points and knocking down 12 of 29 from behind the arc. He also played 28 minutes a game.
The sophomore played more than 15 minutes just once since Dec. 2, averaging just eight minutes a game. After scoring 14 points in 23 minutes in a March 2 loss to Georgetown, Tandy played just seven minutes the next game and did not see the court in Xavier’s first-round Big East Tournament loss to Butler.
Xavier Coach Travis Steele said he has had conversations with Tandy at different points in the season about his energy. However, Tandy’s role went into flux.
Despite the drop in playing time, Tandy was still sixth on the team in scoring [6.6 ppg.] and second in 3-point percentage [35.6%].
Xavier was 13-8 and lost four of its final five games to miss the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons.
Tandy entered his name into the transfer portal three weeks ago.
JUST IN: KyKy Tandy is leaving the transfer portal and returning to #Xavier, said Travis Steele.
— Adam Baum (@AdamJBaum) April 9, 2021
