Report: Former Michigan forward Colton Christian transferring to Florida International

By Kyle Meinke Michigan Football Reporter for MLive.com

Posted on Wed, May 9, 2012 : 4:52 p.m.

Former Michigan basketball player Colton Christian has decided he will transfer to Florida International, according to a tweet posted by Scout's Evan Daniels.

Christian, a junior from Belleue, Wash., announced after last season he would leave the Michigan program. He later cited playing time as the primary reason.

Christian averaged 4.7 minutes per game as a freshman, then 2.7 last year. After sitting out one season according to NCAA transfer rules, he will have two years of eligibility remaining at Florida International.

Former Michigan forward Colton Christian will transfer to Florida International, according to a report.

AnnArbor.com file photo

"(I wanted to) play more," Christian told reporters after the team's postseason banquet. "I love the coaching staff and the players here, but (I'd like to) play more and they understood how I felt.

"Just really go somewhere that I feel that I can make an impact on the court. I felt like I helped the team a lot in practice here, but I'd like to take the next step and go play some more."

Florida International went 8-21 last season and fired coach Isiah Thomas. It hired Richard Pitino, son of Louisville coach Rick Pitino, to replace him.

Michigan has lost three players since it was upset by Ohio in the first round of the NCAA tournament, as Evan Smotrycz and Carlton Brundidge also left the program.

Smotrycz, a forward with two years of eligibility remaining, has landed with Maryland. Brundidge, a guard with three years left, has not announced a destination.