Jamir Hanner is headed to Buffalo.
The 6-foot-8, 220-pound combo forward told SNY.tv Friday he is leaving Marshall and will have two years of eligibility under Buffalo coach Bobby Hurley after sitting out next season.
“Even though I haven’t visited the University of Buffalo, I know about the tradition of the Hurleys and I think it’s a good opportunity for me at a new program and it’s a new start,” he told SNY.tv.
“My time at Marshall was a good transition from prep school to becoming a freshman at Marshall University. I appreciate what Marshall has done for me but it was time to move on and pursue other options.
“I’m thankful and grateful that coach Bobby Hurley was interested. I am very familiar with what Coach Hurley did as a player and his background speaks for itself. It should be a good experience as I continue to learn and grow as a player. Also, my best friend (brother) DeShon Minnis, who is at Rhode Island, spoke good things about Hurley.”
Hurley, who won back-to-back national championships at Duke in 1991 and ’92, is in his first year at Buffalo after assisting his brother, Dan, at Rhode Island for one year and Wagner for two before that.
A Philadelphia native, Hanner is an athletic forward who played in 25 of 32 games last season, averaging 3.6 points and 2.5 rebounds. He scored a career-high 12 points at Ohio Jan. 5.
Hanner initially committed to then-Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez in March 2010.
Marshall coach Tom Herrion, whose club went 13-19 last season, issued the following statement:
“As we continue to mold our roster to assure a very successful future and foundation for Marshall basketball roster changes are inevitable. Jamir Hanner has decided to leave our program at this time to explore other opportunities. Our newcomers along with our returning pieces position us for a positive 13-14 campaign. As a staff we are very pleased with our recent roster additions as well as the possibility of future members of our team.”