Nurideen Lindsey Transfers to Arkansas

This post also appears on NBCSports.com’s Beyond the Arc blog.

After an abrupt announcement to leave St. John’s back in early December, Nurideen Lindsey has announced, via Twitter, that he will transfer to Arkansas and play for head coach Mike Anderson.

“One [reason I chose St. John’s] was to be close to my mom, whose health has been up and down due to some past experiences,” said Lindsey of his original commitment to the Red Storm. “The second was to play for Coach [Steve] Lavin. In both instances it has not worked out how I envisioned.”

Lavin, who continues to work back from prostate cancer surgery in the fall, has only coached in a handful of games for the Red Storm this season.

Lindsey tells CBSSports.com’s Jeff Goodman that the original transfer plans did not work out.

“The whole idea of staying close to home was definitely more ideal,” Lindsey told CBSSports.com. “But unfortunately, the schools close to home weren’t a fit and most didn’t have scholarships.”

He cites Temple and St. Joseph’s as schools that had been of interest.

Lindsey is no stranger to that area of the country, having spent a season at Redlands Community College in Oklahoma, prior to joining St. John’s. He averaged 22 points per game in one season at Redlands.

When he joins the team, the Razorbacks are getting a ballhandler with a quick first step and impressive body control around the rim.

Problems arose for Lindsey this season against teams with length and athleticism, including Kentucky and Detroit, games in which he went a combined 2-of-9 from the floor, for four points and 11 turnovers. His inability to step out and work in the midrange became more apparent in assistant coach Mike Dunlap’s half-court system.

And, for just that reason, Lindsey fits well at Arkansas.

He will be part of a youthful backcourt that includes freshman BJ Young, who is averaging nearly 15 points per game, Rashad Madden, Rickey Scott, and Mardracus Wade.

Mike Anderson runs a deep bench, with nine players playing in every game and all nine averaging 15+ minutes per game. They run the floor and attack in transition, which is where Lindsey operates best.

As per NCAA rules, he will sit out this semester and the first of the 2012-13 season, giving him 1 ½ years of eligibility at Arkansas.