Pearson to leave Southeast basketball program

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team will be in the market for a starting point guard next season.

Sophomore Roderick Pearson said Tuesday that he recently informed Southeast coach Scott Edgar of his intention to transfer.

Pearson said he will finish the current semester at Southeast before returning to his home in the Kansas City area and deciding where to continue his college basketball career.

"Overall I'm just not happy here," he said. "My family sensed I wasn't happy here. I just want to do something that will make me happy."

Pearson, who started 27 of Southeast's 31 games this past season, was the Redhawks' fourth-leading scorer with an average of 10.2 points per game.

But Pearson struggled with turnovers and fouls.

His 103 turnovers were the fourth-most in the Ohio Valley Conference, and his 106 fouls tied for the most in the league.

Pearson did lead the Redhawks with 82 assists and was second with 34 steals.

Pearson said the fact Southeast faltered so much down the stretch -- losing 14 of its last 15 games -- did not enter into his decision.

At one point the Redhawks were 6-0 in OVC play, but they lost 13 of their final 14 league games and did not qualify for the conference tournament.

"I've been thinking about it [leaving] since the beginning of the season. Even when we were winning, I had it on my mind," Pearson said. "Even when Brandon [Foust, who suffered a knee injury] was playing and we were winning, I just wasn't happy."

Pearson, who started 19 games as a true freshman during Edgar's first season at Southeast, said he plans to continue playing Division I basketball, meaning he will have to sit out a season before becoming eligible to compete for his new program.

"I'm thinking about going somewhere closer to home, but I haven't really decided," said Pearson, who is from the Kansas City suburb of Raytown, Mo. "I'm just trying to find a place that I will like."

Pearson, a recreation major who recently was honored as a Southeast Scholar Athlete with a cumulative 3.143 grade-point average, said he enjoyed Southeast from an academic standpoint.

But he said the basketball end of things wasn't working for him.

"Last year too, but I thought I'd stick it out a year and see if it would change," he said.

Pearson wanted to make it clear that he has no problem with Edgar personally, and wishes the program the best of luck in the future.

"I talked with coach Edgar and I think he understood," Pearson said. "There really wasn't any conflict."

Pearson has not yet received his official release from Southeast, although he said he doesn't anticipate a problem with that. Pearson cannot talk to any other programs until he is granted his release.

"He and I are in the process of discussing his future," Edgar said. "I've got the utmost respect for him. ... I have enjoyed coaching him."

The only other true point guard on this past season's roster was junior college transfer Hank Harris, who served as Pearson's backup and also made three starts.

Harris averaged just 2.2 points per game, but had an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio with 42 assists against 23 turnovers.

Pearson's departure means Southeast almost certainly will sign a point guard for next season.