KNOXVILLE — University of Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl confirmed today that center Philip Jurick from East Ridge High School won’t return for a second year with the program.

Pearl said Jurick, a 6-foot-11 player who redshirted last season, will likely transfer to Chattanooga State in hopes of returning to a four-year program in the near future.

Attempts to reach Jurick on Friday afternoon weren’t immediately successful, but Pearl maintained his stance of disappointment with the decision. The coach has stated since this spring that he hoped Jurick would return to the program, despite what appears to be a scholarship crunch (especially given Tyler Smith’s Thursday decision to return for his senior season).

“I’m disappointed,” Pearl said. “But Philip knows that everyone in the Tennessee basketball family loves him, and we wish him nothing but the best.

“It is our anticipation that he will go to Chattanooga State. And the possibility still exists that he could return to Tennessee one day.”

Read Friday’s Times Free Press for more UT coverage.