Olek Czyz To Transfer From Duke

UPDATE | 10:30 a.m.: Sophomore forward Olek Czyz will transfer from Duke, the program announced in a statement this  morning. A native of Poland who went to high school in Reno, Czyz is expected to matriculate to another Division-I school.

"Olek has a bright future ahead of him and we wish him the best of luck," Mike Krzyzewski said in a statement. "He has been a valued member of the Duke Basketball family and we will support him through his impending transfer."

With Czyz's departure, Miles Plumlee remains as the only Class of 2008 recruit. Czyz is the fifth Duke transfer in five years, joining Elliot Williams, Taylor King, Jamal Boykin and Eric Boateng as players who have left the Blue Devils to join another programs.

11:30 p.m.: TheHoopsReport.com is reporting that Duke forward Olek Czyz has been released from his scholarship and will seek to transfer before the second semester begins. If Czyz is able to find a new school before the start of the semester, NCAA rules will allow him to begin playing midway through next season, instead of forcing him to wait until the 2011-2012 campaign.

If Czyz completes his transfer, it would leave Miles Plumlee as the lone remaining member of Duke's 2008 recruiting class. Guard Elliot Williams transferred to Memphis over the summer in order to be closer to his ill mother.

Despite being rated a four star prospect by Scout.com and a key member of the 2008 recruiting class, Czyz's potential and athletic ability never materialized into tangible results on the floor. Czyz averaged 0.6 points in only 3.9 minutes of playing time per game last year, and despite playing solidly while starting early this season in the place of a suspended Nolan Smith, Czyz's production waned when Smith returned to the starting lineup. Czyz has improved noticeably this season; however, the sophomore has still averaged just over 10 minutes of playing time and 2.5 points per game.

Czyz's departure is yet to be confirmed by the Duke athletic department, and Sports Information Director Matt Plizga declined comment to The Chronicle earlier today. The Chronicle will continue to follow this developing story and any response from Duke Basketball.