Back-up point guard Chris De La Rosa has informed coach Fran McCaffery that he will not return to the Siena men's basketball program for his sophomore season.

From the Siena press release.

"Chris was a valuable member of our championship season," McCaffery said. "I appreciate his contributions and everyone associated with Siena basketball wishes him the best of luck."

De La Rosa appeared in 33 games and averaged 2.5 points in 9.5 minutes per contest as a reserve for the Saints during the 2007-08 season.

An interesting decision and one that I surely did not see coming. De La Rosa seemed to pick up momentum as the season wore on and he seemed to be a more integral part of Siena's offensive attack.

Especially with Siena's only senior Tay Fisher, a guard, set to graduate it seems as if Chris' minutes would have rose in 2008-09.

With starting point guard Ronald Moore being just a year older than De La Rosa, one may think that Chris' idea was to become the starter and that didn't look like it would happen for two more years.

This decision frees up a scholarship for Siena for the upcoming season and De La Rosa becomes the third Capital District hoopster (UAlbany's Reid Anderson and Rob Moores) to transfer away following the 2007-08 season.