Gibbs announces he will transfer

A crowded Texas backcourt claimed its first victim Tuesday. Freshman point guard Sterling Gibbs announced plans to transfer at the end of the semester.

“I’ve had a great year at Texas,” said Gibbs in a statement. “I’ve improved as a basketball player and as a person during my time here.”

Gibbs played behind fellow freshman Myck Kabongo this season. Had Gibbs stuck around for his sophomore year, he would likely have been stuck behind Kabongo and incoming point guard Javan Felix, a four-star prospect from New Orleans.

Its unclear where Gibbs will play this fall. He has not picked a new school.

The New Jersey product played in 30 games, averaging 2.6 points and 0.7 assists in 7.5 minutes. He did not play in the Longhorns’ season-ending loss to Cincinnati in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in March.

Kabongo’s return coupled with Felix’s imminent arrival would likely have meant fewer minutes for Gibbs next season.

Gibbs, though, hinted that the distance from his home in Scotch Plains, NJ., was also a factor in his choice to leave UT.

“My decision is family-related and involves more than basketball,” he said.

Gibbs scored in double figures once, posting 14 points against Nicholls State on December 13. He logged double figures in minutes in 11 games. Gibbs did not play in four games.

Ridley to sign with Texas today

Cameron Ridley is ready to officially join the Longhorns.

The center from Fort Bend Bush will sign his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday, according to multiple reports citing Ridley’s high school coach, Ronnie Courtney.

Ridley has been verbally committed to Texas for over a year. The 6-foot-10, 230-pound prospect will be UT’s sixth recruit to sign. He verbally committed to the Longhorns on Jan. 14, 2011.

Ridley joins Prince Ibeh from Naaman Forest High School in Garland, Connor Lammert from Winston Churchill High School in San Antonio and Ioannis Papapetrou from Florida Air Academy in the Longhorns’ frontcourt next season.

Texas was undersized on the blocks this season, but Ridley and Ibeh give UT the size it desperately needs.

Ridley was a McDonald’s All-American this year and is a five-star recruit.