UWGB loses recruit Chevalier Emery Jr. to transfer portal, but guard Preston Ruedinger will play for Doug Gottlieb
GREEN BAY – Chevalier Emery Jr.’s time with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men’s basketball team already appears to be done.
Emery announced Thursday he put his name back in the NCAA transfer portal.
The former Neenah star barely got his foot in the door after committing to play for the Phoenix less than two weeks ago when he was offered a scholarship by former coach Sundance Wicks.
Wicks’ path changed abruptly Sunday when he was hired as the new head coach at Wyoming. It was an understandable move for him, not only getting the opportunity to return home for a dream job but also getting a bigger payday.
But by leaving so late in the offseason, not to mention the move coming with virtually no warning, means some people left behind have been impacted.
After all, not everyone can follow Wicks to Wyoming.
Emery was excited about getting the opportunity to play in front of family and friends with the Phoenix.
He did not respond to a text message Thursday about his future, but he did thank coaches, teammates and the Green Bay community in a social media post.
The 6-foot guard committed to UWGB on May 5 after a big sophomore season at Dodge City Community College in Kansas.
He averaged 18.7 points in 17 starts, shooting 45.3% overall (107-for-263) and 41.6% from 3-point range (52-for-125) while playing 30.6 minutes per game.
“It means the world,” Emery said after committing. “I have been around the game, around GB basketball, my whole life. When I started playing basketball for West De Pere (youth program), my first coach was (UWGB great) Jeff Nordgaard. … The GB men’s basketball program runs deep within me, just because I know a lot of people who played there.
“It means a lot to my family. Just being able to see them in the stands now every home game. I got two little brothers who live around here (in De Pere), so I get to see them grow up as well. There is a lot of great things that come with Green Bay basketball.”
Emery was in attendance Wednesday at the Kress Center when the school introduced Doug Gottlieb as the new men’s coach.
It’s unclear how much Gottlieb and Emery spoke before Emery entered the portal for the second time this offseason.
Emery had discussions with several other DI schools before committing to UWGB, a list that included Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Ball State and Marshall.
He joins guard David Douglas Jr. and forward Amari Jedkins in the portal. They entered a short time after Wicks left.
UWGB has six scholarships open and must get to work building a team that went 18-14 this season but has been decimated by departures.
Preston Ruedinger to return to the Phoenix
The Phoenix did receive some good news Thursday when junior guard and former Oshkosh Lourdes standout Preston Ruedinger confirmed he will return for a second season.
The 6-2 Ruedinger averaged 8.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists this season. He started 22 games and played in 28 while averaging 26.1 minutes.
Ruedinger was uncertain whether he would return earlier in the week but did believe Gottlieb and his collegiate playing experience at the University of Notre Dame and Oklahoma State would be a benefit to the team.
“He sounds great,” Ruedinger said. “I think once we get into the gym and start working with him, the relationships are only going to grow from there.”
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: UWGB recruit Emery Jr. enters portal, but Ruedinger plans to return
