Vermont basketball transfer leaves Catamounts

Two weeks after the team officially announced his arrival, former Memphis guard Jayhlon Young has left the University of Vermont men's basketball program.

Young announced on social media Wednesday evening his decision "to decommit" from the Catamounts and "reopen my recruitment due to personal reasons."

Young, who has a year of eligibility remaining, said he put "careful consideration" into his decision-making process.

"I would like to thank the staff at Vermont as well as the supportive fan base," Young said in his post on X, the site formerly known as Twitter. "This was not an easy decision for me, but it's what is best for my family and myself at this time. Thank you again for all of your support."

In his only season for the Memphis Tigers, the 6-foot-2 Young played in 27 of 32 games this past winter and averaged 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per game, while shooting 43.4% from the floor. He also finished fifth on the Tigers in steals (21).

Prior to his time at Memphis, Young had stops at Central Florida (2022-23), Baton Rouge Community College (2020-2022) and a redshirt year at Grambling State (2019-20). The native of Dallas, Young scored 1,000 career points in high school and was a two-time all-district honoree at Garland.

Young initially committed to Vermont in April. The team announced Young's signing on May 28. That post on X was deleted Thursday morning.

A spokesperson for the UVM athletic department wrote the Free Press in a text message on Thursday morning that, "for graduate transfers, there is no formal release process." The spokesperson also said Vermont coach John Becker "has no comment at this time" on Young's withdrawal from the school.

The three-time defending America East tournament champion Catamounts are returning nine scholarship players for the 2024-25 season. They filled scholarship openings this offseason with transfer Shy Odom (Howard) and incoming freshman Ben Wesson (Albemarle High School/Virginia).

Young's departure opens up one rostered scholarship.

Contact Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.