Khem Birch, one of the highest rated players Jamie Dixon has ever signed out of high school, announced late today that he is leaving the Pittsburgh basketball team and heading back home to Canada. Birch was seeing pretty consistent playing time and had moved into the starting lineup, so the move comes as a surprise to some. Birch told CBS that he was unhappy with the Pittsburgh coaches or players in deciding to transfer:
"I'm leaving," Birch told CBSSports.com on Friday night. "I'm headed to Toronto now. I enjoyed my time at Pittsburgh, I love Coach (Jamie) Dixon, had no problems with the staff and the players. It just wasn't the right fit for me."
Birch told CBS' Jeff Borzello that he has not made a decision where he will transfer to, though last night when the rumors of his decision to transfer first surfaced, there was speculation that he desired to play for John Calipari and Kentucky. Birch will be a highly sought after recruit once he turns his attention to making a transfer decision.