April 27, 2016
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State men's basketball head coach Steve Fisher announced today that guard Parker U'u has decided to leave the program and pursue basketball opportunities at another school. U'u is set to participate in commencement ceremonies at SDSU in May and by graduating, will be eligible immediately.
"It is with our blessing that Parker U'u has decided to explore options to transfer to another school to pursue his master's degree and have an opportunity to get more playing time," Fisher said. "Parker has been a tremendous asset to us. He has been the captain of our scout team and made our entire team better. He is a very capable player and can be a valuable asset for any Division I program.
"We are sad to see him go. He will always be an Aztec. I know he and his family have enjoyed their San Diego State experience."
A native of Sacramento, U'u recently completed his junior campaign at SDSU where he played in nine games and accumulated four points, four rebounds and five assists in 15 minutes of action. An ACL injury derailed his sophomore season (2014-15) at San Diego State after just two games. U'u sat out the 2013-14 following his transfer from Hartford.
During his three seasons at SDSU, the Aztecs won back-to-back-to-back Mountain West regular-season titles, went to the NCAA tournament twice, including the Sweet 16 in 2014, and advanced to the semifinals of the NIT this past season.
While at Hartford, U'u played in 29 games as a true freshman for a Hawks team that earned a spot in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, which marked the first time the school had qualified for a Division I postseason tourney. In 7.5 minutes, U'u averaged 1.4 points and 1.1 rebounds.
"Being part of the San Diego State program was certainly different from where I came from, the University of Hartford, a small school on the east coast," U'u said. "San Diego State is a powerhouse and the fan base is incredible. I came here as a walk-on and unfortunately injuries kept me from being able to do everything I wanted. I have enjoyed my time here and I have made some long-lasting friendships. Coach Fisher and the staff have made me a better player and I have absolutely no regrets.
"With one year left, I need to focus on my career and I definitely think I can be a valuable asset for some program."
U'u leaves Montezuma Mesa behind having played in 40 career games and with averages of 1.2 points, 1.0 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 0.3 steals in 6.0 minutes.