Sad Ending to Dominique Ferguson's College Story

"Seriously, you're not going to grant my transfer request? SMH..." You guys remember Dominique Ferguson right?  This Indianapolis kid committed to Billy Gillispie at a young age.  Hailing from Greg Oden's alma mater, we all had high hopes for Dom.  In fact, I believe he was the highest ranked kid to commit to BCG outside of Patrick Patterson.  Ferguson once sat in the Top 20 of his 2010 high school class (Marc Maggard even said he had potential to crack top-10 or top-5 when he first committed I think, #wrongonpurpose), but fell off to four-star status after decommiting from UK once Calipari was hired. Ferguson eventually decided on FIU and Isiah Thomas, who has recently been fired and replace by (lil) Richard Pitino.  Unhappy with Isiah's departure, Ferguson asked for a transfer.  In strange fashion, Dominique Ferguson's transfer request was denied by FIU and he will now enter the NBA draft.  This is a sad state of events for the kid.  He came to play for Coach Thomas, an NBA legend, and he is no longer there.  Preventing the kid from furthering his college career somewhere he feels more comfortable is not only reasonable but expected, especially during a coaching change. Check out this AP article on the messy matter.  It sheds some light on Dom's story and family struggles at FIU.  Here are a few interesting quotes:

“I wanted to play for Isiah Thomas,” Ferguson said. And with that no longer an option, Ferguson wanted out of FIU. Ferguson said he cited academic, family and basketball reasons for wanting to transfer to a school closer to home. A native of Indianapolis, Ferguson said he had seen his family five times in the past three years and that he told the appeals board he needed “a better support system.” “After much discussion with my family and support base we have decided to hire an agent and attempt to play professionally in the states or overseas,” Ferguson wrote in a news release announcing the decision.

I don't really understand this move from FIU.  After the initial denial, Ferguson appealed and even had a meeting with FIU's president.  And he was still denied. Why?  Is there a logical and justifiable reasoning behind this?  I'm not going to point fingers at Little Richard, but it makes you wonder.  It wouldn't be the first time he's done a disparaging act to a young kid (*couch, Eric Bledsoe's transcript, cough*). Ferguson averaged 8 points and 5.6 rebounds last season.  While he is certainly talented, something we all saw when following his recruitment and time at Lawrence North HS, it's hard to believe he is ready for the NBA.  And it doesn't seem Ferguson is confident in his NBA's chances either.  Notice his inclusion of "or overseas".  Now a kid who once had a bright college future is throwing his career to the sharks because he cannot transfer to a new school. Throw in the fact that Ferguson has only seen his family five times in three years, this looks like a bad move by FIU.  Good luck, kid.