Herb Pope, a 6-foot-8, 235-pound junior power forward from Aliquippa, Pa., visited Seton Hall last weekend and is considering transferring to the Big East school from New Mexico State, according to reports.
Pope, who averaged 11.1 points and 6.8 rebounds last season and has had a troubled past, reportedly received a release from New Mexico State, but NMSU athletic director McKinley Boston said the school is allowing Pope a chance to explore his options for personal reasons.
“We are trying to assist Herb through some tough personal situations right now,” Boston told the Las Cruces Sun-News. “It’s a work in progress. At the end of the day, I’m confident that he will be in an Aggie uniform this season. But we want the best for him.”
If Pope comes to Seton Hall for hardship reasons, he could apply for a waiver that would enable him to play next season instead of sitting out as per NCAA regulations. The school hopes to secure such a waiver for Keon Lawrence, a Newark native who has several severely ill family members and whose official transfer is still pending.
Pope’s aunt told the Las Cruces Sun-News she had no comment.
Seton Hall desperately needs frontcourt help. The school had hoped that 6-6 Michael Glover would be the answer at power forward, but the NCAA last year ruled him a non-qualifier. He remains at the school as a non-scholarship student.
