Former Indiana guard Crawford to transfer to Xavier

Jordan Crawford, who orginally considered Xavier, is transferring from Indiana to the Cincinnati school. Getty Images

By Kevin Armstrong, SI.com

Former Indiana guard Jordan Crawford, who informed new Hoosiers coach Tom Crean last month that he would not return to play in Bloomington next winter, has decided to transfer to Xavier University, SI.com has learned.

In the aftermath of Kelvin Sampson's departure and prior to Crean's introduction, Xavier coach Sean Miller was considered a candidate for the Indiana job, but the 39-year-old instead signed a 10-year extension with the Musketeers that runs through 2017-18. His program, which made it to the Elite Eight and went 30-7 last season, has become a welcoming port for former Hoosier players and recruits. The 6-foot-4 Crawford, who averaged 9.7 points per game as a freshman originally considered Xavier before signing with Indiana as a fifth-year senior out of Hargrave Military Academy. Xavier also inked incoming freshman Terrell Holloway, a 6-foot, 175-pound point guard who had signed a Letter of Intent to Indiana before Sampson's departure, in the late signing period.

Crawford is expected to have to sit out next season, but he may apply for a waiver. Miller will have 6-8 Tulsa transfer Jamel McLean and 6-8 Hillsdale transfer Andrew Taylor, who practiced with Xavier last season become eligible as sophomores next season. The Musketeers, who lost Drew Lavender and lockdown defender Stanley Burrell to graduation, and also have a freshman recruiting class which includes 7-footer Kenny Frease of Massillon (Ohio) Perry High and Brad Redford, a 6-0 and 170-pound guard from Frankenmuth (Mich.) High .