UC IRVINE NOTES : Salary Dispute Leads to Jeff Herdman’s Release

Jeff Herdman, a former UC Irvine basketball standout who was playing professionally in Europe, has been released by his team in Liege, Belgium, he said Monday.

Herdman averaged 26 points in about 20 exhibition games for the Belgian club, but the team released him because it was unable to sign him at the salary that had been agreed upon, Herdman said.

“They were under some financial troubles, and they brought someone in to take my spot for less,” said Herdman, who is visiting his family in Orange County.

Herdman, 22, said he probably will play in the Continental Basketball Assn. this season, but he would like to return to Europe.

He said he was disappointed at first, but enjoyed the experience. “If I had played bad, I would be upset, but I was playing really well,” he said.

A 6-foot-7 forward, Herdman was Irvine’s leading scorer as a senior last season, averaging 18.1 points. He also was the team’s second-leading rebounder, averaging 7.5 rebounds.

He holds a number of Irvine three-point shooting records, including most three-pointers in a season--112 in 1990--and most three-pointers in a career--201.