Xeyrius Williams announces he’s leaving Dayton Flyers

Forward will transfer with one year of eligibility remaining

Dayton Flyers coach Anthony Grant announced Sunday he has granted junior Xeyrius Williams a release from his scholarship and that Williams intends to transfer.

Williams, a 6-9 forward, said he would have “no further comment” on his decision. He appeared in 18 games this season, averaging 5.0 points and 3.1 rebounds. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

Williams, a graduate of Wayne High School, played in 77 games the last three seasons. He scored 407 points in his career. His most memorable moment came last season when he hit two 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds to carry Dayton to a victory at Rhode Island.

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Williams had a breakout year as a sophomore, averaging 8.2 points and 4.8 rebounds. Last summer, talking about the season ahead, Williams said, “I think me working on scoring off the dribble is a big deal that will help me become an all-conference player.”

The season did not go as planned. Williams started the season in the starting lineup and played 34-plus minutes in each of the first four games, averaging 11.3 points. Then he missed the next five games with a back injury.

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Williams returned to action against Georgia State on Dec. 16 and had two points in 13 minutes. He scored 16 points against Saint Mary’s in the next game, most the baskets coming in the final minutes, and then only scored in double figures once more. He never got his starting job back and played 20-plus minutes only once in 18 Atlantic 10 games.

On Feb. 28, Dayton announced Williams was out indefinitely with a back injury. Earlier in the month, he had stopped traveling to away games. The official explanation was he was focusing on academics. Williams was not on the bench for the final home game against George Washington.

Williams is the second member of the four-man recruiting class that also included Sam Miller, Ryan Mikesell and John Crosby to transfer. Miller transferred to the College of Charleston.

Dayton now has one scholarship open for the 2018-19 season.

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