Two Georgia hoops players seek transfer

Athens — And the exodus has begun.

Zac Swansey, Georgia’s starting point guard for the first half of this past season, has asked to be released from his scholarship so he can seek a transfer.

Swansey, a sophomore from Dunwoody, confirmed the news via e-mail Monday night. He also confirmed that fellow guard Troy Brewer filed for a release on Monday.

Swansey lost his starting job to freshman Dustin Ware the last week of January. He said he was more upset about the handling of that demotion than the demotion itself. He said the coaches never sat him down and explained why they were making the move or what he needed to do to try to get his starting spot back.

“There was a lack of communication, big time,” Swansey said.

Swansey began the season as the heir apparent to Sundiata Gaines at point guard and started 17 of the first 18 games. But he went from averaging over 25 minutes a game the first two months of the season to less than 15 the last six weeks.

Swansey will always be remembered for his pirouetting 3-point basket that lifted Georgia to a dramatic win over Kentucky en route to last year’s SEC tournament championship. He scored a career-high 13 points against South Carolina in February and dished out 10 assists against Jacksonville State in November of 2007.

Brewer, a 6-5 sophomore shooting guard from Rockville, Md., averaged 7.3 minutes while playing in 21 of Georgia’s 32 games.