Mark Georgeson to Leave Arizona for Pepperdine

Mark Georgeson, a 6-foot 11-inch freshman center at Arizona, will transfer to Pepperdine at the end of the semester, Pepperdine Coach Tom Asbury said Wednesday.

Georgeson, who averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds 2 seasons ago as a senior at Marina High School, sat out last season as a redshirt. He played 6 minutes in the first 3 games this season for ninth-ranked Arizona and did not play in the Wildcats’ 89-75 victory Saturday over Nevada Las Vegas.

Georgeson said he decided to transfer to get more playing time.

“If the decision had been made on emotion, I definitely would stay. I love everybody from the coaches to the players to the trainers, everybody at Arizona,” he said.

But he added, “This is more of a business decision. I will have a better opportunity to play.”

Said Arizona Coach Lute Olson: “I am very sorry to see Mark leave. He has been a credit to our program in every regard.”

Arizona has 11 remaining eligible players this season, including another 6-11 redshirt freshman, Sean Rooks. Another 6-11 player, Brian Williams, a transfer student from Maryland, will be eligible as a sophomore next season.

Georgeson is expected to begin classes Jan. 4 and have 2 1/2 seasons of eligibility after he sits out a season. He said he chose Pepperdine because it is close to his home, has a solid basketball program and good academics and he has known Coach Asbury, for some time.