DePaul’s Pitchford Appeals for Release; Seton Hall’s Willard Says Pope is ‘Doing Great’

Unable to obtain a release from his scholarship to DePaul, Walter Pitchford Jr., a 6-10 forward/center from Grand Rapids, Mich., has appealed to the NCAA to obtain one.

“Walter applied to the NCAA for the appeal,” his father, Walter Pitchford Sr, said in an exclusive interview. “I believe the NCAA told him that it will be 30 days before they will be able to take a look at it.”

DePaul coach Oliver Purnell and team spokesman Greg Greenwell did not answer phonecalls to their offices Thursday seeking comment.

ZAGSBLOG.com wrote about Pitchford’s desire to be released May 29.

At that time, Pitchford Jr. said he wanted out due to the coaching change that brought in Purnell as the new coach and also because of concerns about crime in the Chicago area.

In response, DePaul issued the following statement via email June 2.