Former Tyner standout center Michael Bradley confirmed his intention to transfer from the University of Connecticut to Western Kentucky via text message Thursday afternoon to the Times Free Press.
Bradley, who was a redshirt freshman on UConn's 2011 national championship team, suffered an injury at the beginning of the year and was forced to sit out this past season as well. He becomes the fifth player to leave the program, as Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond declared for the NBA draft, Alex Oriakhi is transferring to Missouri and Roscoe Smith has been granted his release.
Connecticut, which finished 20-14 this past season, is ineligible for the 2013 postseason because of low scores on the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate.
The 6-foot-9 center said he wanted to move closer to his grandmother Frankie Bradley, who is battling lung cancer. He also noted via text message that Western Kentucky had "a great family atmosphere."
As a result of the Huskies' postseason ban, he might not have to sit out a season and could play right away for the Hilltoppers, who won the Sun Belt Conference tournament and a "First Four" game in the NCAA tournament before falling to eventual national champion Kentucky.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.