Johnny Juzang's father opens up about son's transfer decision with The Athletic

On Friday afternoon, Kentucky freshman guard Johnny Juzang announced he would be entering the NCAA transfer portal and likely ending his time in Lexington. “What a ride,” Juzang said on his Twitter page. “The last year at Kentucky was one of the best experiences of my life. I grew so much not only as a player, but as a young man as well. I’d like to thank all my coaches, my brothers, the trainers, the staff, BBN, and everyone who made this year so special. From the bottom of my heart I’m going to miss this place. “With lots of thought and consideration, I’ve decided to put my name into the transfer portal.” After the dust settled on Juzang's announcement, Kyle Tucker of The Athletic spoke to the 6-foot-6 guard's father, Maxie Juzang, about his son's decision to transfer and how it all came to fruition. One of the key reasons for the transfer? Homesickness. Despite Juzang's spike in minutes and production to close out the season, the Kentucky freshman couldn't overcome his desire to return closer to home. “When you think about being homesick, I’m not sure how he played at the end was much of a factor,” Juzang told Tucker of The Athletic. “Johnny was young, so it took him a little longer to adjust mentally and maturity-wise, and the fact that me and my wife both work and didn’t get out there near as much as we thought we might really made it tough. “Still, it was a tough decision to leave, because Johnny loved the coaches, loved the teammates, loved the stage. I think he choked up a little bit having to tell Cal. It was emotional for him.” Apparently for UK head coach John Calipari, it wasn't an easy decision for him, either. At the time of Juzang's announcement, Calipari released a statement saying that the "option [to return to Kentucky] is always open to him," a significant change of pace from most farewell messages he publishes regarding transfer decisions. “I talked to Johnny last night along with his family and let him know if he wants to come back here that this option is always open to him,” Calipari said Friday afternoon. “Johnny had a great year and really got better as the season went on. I always enjoyed coaching him, and if there’s an opportunity to continue to do so, I would welcome it with open arms because Johnny is a great kid and a skilled basketball player with a bright future.” At the end of the day, though, there are no hard feelings toward Calipari or the Kentucky basketball program. Juzang told Tucker that they will "always be thankful and appreciative" for their time in Lexington. “We don’t have any hard feelings about anything,” Maxie Juzang told The Athletic. “Cal is a great coach. ... I think Cal loves him and wants the best for him, regardless of what he does. That’s a relationship that is going to be great for years to come. ... We’ll always be thankful and appreciative of him and that staff." For the entire article, you'll need to open up your wallet and head over to The Athletic.