Kasim Chandler Granted His Release From Quinnipiac

Quinnipiac’s Kasim Chandler has been granted his release from the program, the school confirmed on Thursday.

The sophomore guard quickly established himself as a dynamic playmaker in the Bobcats’ backcourt as a freshman in 2013-14 with a career-high 19 points at La Salle in just his second game at the Division I level.

Chandler scored in double figures 12 times in his freshman season and averaged 8.1 ppg for the year, but missed nine games down the stretch with a broken toe. Chandler returned in time for the MAAC tournament in Springfield and in his second game off the shelf, scored 14 points along with seven assists in an 87-68 semifinal loss to Manhattan.

Entering 2014-15, Chandler was primed to take over as the team’s primary ball-handler supported by Westchester Community College transfer Gio McLean. When McLean was ruled ineligible prior to the season, the point guard duties fell solely to Chandler.

The sophomore racked up four double-digit games, but struggled with turnovers early in the year. After freshman Ayron Hutton broke out with a 16 point, eight assist game at Iona, the All-MAAC Rookie selection supplanted Chandler in the starting lineup for the Bobcats’ next game at Monmouth and beyond.

Chandler’s playing time dwindled down the stretch and he missed the team’s final three games with a concussion. With the expected return of McLean to the lineup as well as the emergence of Hutton and fellow freshman Dimitri Floras, options at the point multiplied and Chandler was granted his release.

Vincent Simone covers Quinnipiac, the MAAC, and Hofstra, among others for Big Apple Buckets. You can follow him on Twitter @VTSimone.