PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley men's basketball forwards Michael Rembert and Lance Stemler have been granted their requests for a release from their scholarships and will transfer at the end of the academic year, Braves head coach Jim Les announced today.
“Both Michael and Lance gave everything they had for Bradley Basketball during their time here,” said Les. “They represented Bradley University and our basketball program in a first-class manner. I am disappointed they have decided to transfer, but I will do whatever I can to help them continue their basketball careers and further their educations.”
A 6-foot-9 post player from Chicago (St. Rita H.S.), Rembert played in 26 of Bradley's 28 games last season, averaging 2.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest. In 52 career games at Bradley, Rembert averaged 2.5 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 50.5 percent from the floor. In his lone start this season, Rembert recorded a career-best 12 points and added five rebounds and blocked shot Feb. 19 at Western Kentucky. Rembert has not yet determined his future school. If he transfers to another NCAA Division I program, he be forced to sit out the 2005-06 season and then will have two years of eligibility remaining.
“I had a great time at Bradley and I love and appreciate all the staff and faculty,” said Rembert. “I wish the team all the luck in the future. My family and I are just looking for a better opportunity.”
A 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman from Columbia, Ill. (Gibault Catholic H.S.), Stemler transferred to Bradley last summer from Southwestern Illinois College, where he received a medical hardship during the 2003-04 season due to a wrist injury. Citing the desire to be closer to home, Stemler has elected to return to his former school to play his sophomore season.
“I really enjoyed the time I spent here with my teammates,” said Stemler. “The coaches were great and I really liked the campus, but I really just want to go where I can play right away. I'll be watching and I wish everyone good luck.”
Stemler began the 2004-05 season with a groin injury, but began to gain more playing time as the season progressed. He ended the year with 11 points (0.9 ppg) and 11 rebounds (0.9 rpg) in his 12 appearances.
Despite the two losses, Bradley will return 12 letterman who combined for 95.9 percent of the team's scoring and 93.1 percent of the team's rebounds during the 2004-05 season. Tops among Bradley's returning group is junior forward Marcellus Sommerville, who was a repeat selection to the All-Missouri Valley Conference first team after finishing third in the league in both scoring and rebounding with averages of 17.5 points and 7.5 boards. In addition, junior guard Tony Bennett was named to the 2005 Valley All-Newcomer Team after averaging 11.8 points per game and finishing third in the league with 1.82 steals per game. Freshman 7-footer Patrick O'Bryant averaged 10.0 points and 7.4 rebounds and became the first freshman to lead the Valley in blocked shots (75) since Creighton's Benoit Benjamin in 1982-83.
After signing two recruits last fall -- 6-foot-6 high school guard Ray Brown (Richfield, Minn./Richfield H.S.) and 6-foot-8 junior college forward Zach Andrews (Sacramento, Calif./Yuba College) -- Bradley now has two more scholarships available for the 2005-06 season.
