KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee guard Trae Golden's roller-coaster junior year has culminated with the biggest twist of all.
Tennessee announced Tuesday that Golden will transfer at the end of the spring semester. Golden, a two-year starter, had placed third in the Southeastern Conference with 3.9 assists per game and was the Vols' third-leading scorer with 12.1 points per game this past season. He was named SEC player of the week twice while helping the Volunteers finish 20-13 and earn a second straight NIT berth.
"I had a great three years at Tennessee, but I plan to play my senior year somewhere else this fall," Golden said in a statement released by the university. "I really appreciate the staff and all the great support from Vol fans. I'm definitely going to miss my teammates. I want them to have nothing but success in the future."
Golden's decision creates uncertainty for a program that figured to enter the 2013-14 as a potential Top 25 team. Tennessee returns first-team all-SEC guard Jordan McRae and second-team all-SEC forward Jarnell Stokes, who both chose to return to school rather than entering the NBA Draft. The Vols also welcome back Jeronne Maymon, a second-team all-SEC forward in 2011-12 who missed the entire 2012-13 season with a knee injury.
In the April 27 statement announcing his decision to return for his junior season, Stokes said he was "looking forward to playing with Jeronne, Jordan, Trae and my other teammates again."