Javion Ogunyemi to transfer back to Siena (UPDATED)

Javion Ogunyemi, who transferred from Siena earlier in offseason, is seeking a possible return to Loudonville, citing family reasons. (Photo courtesy of the Albany Times Union)

Siena may not lose Javion Ogunyemi after all.

The 6-8 forward, who initially announced his intent to transfer at the end of March following his sophomore season, has now received a release from Boston University, where he had since matriculated following his departure.

Initially reported by ESPN's Jeff Goodman, Ogunyemi is said to be seeking a return to the Saints, for whom he averaged 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game as a key cog in a depleted Siena frontcourt that lost Imoh Silas for the entire season with a torn ACL, and Brett Bisping for the majority of an 11-20 campaign due to a fractured toe that required surgery to repair.

Mark Singelais, who covers the Saints for the Albany Times Union, further states that a source close to Ogunyemi; who committed to Boston University citing a desire for a change of scenery, stated the forward had been "deeply affected" by the murder of his cousin in his hometown of Troy, New York, and had become "a little homesick" while in Boston preparing to begin his NCAA-mandated year in residence with the Terriers. Marisa Jacques, who covers Siena for Time Warner Cable News in the Capital Region, confirmed moments ago that Ogunyemi would indeed be returning to Siena.

Ogunyemi intends to meet with head coach Jimmy Patsos in the coming days upon the coach's return from Kuwait, where he is spending the week volunteering on behalf of the United Service Organizations' "Operation Hardwood." It is unknown at this time whether or not he will still need to sit out during the upcoming season, being that he would be returning to Siena just several months after leaving in the first place. Furthermore, Singelais' report reveals that Siena has filled each of their thirteen scholarships, which means Ogunyemi would need to apply for need-based financial aid if one of the current players' scholarships is not reassigned.

A player transferring back to his original school is not unheard of, as Jerome Seagears returned to Rutgers weeks after transferring to Auburn in the wake of the events that cost former coach Mike Rice his job. Seagears eventually transferred again at the end of the 2013-14 season, and will suit up for UNLV as a senior this fall.

In other Siena news, the Saints announced that recently graduated senior Rob Poole signed a professional contract with MKS Start Lublin of Poland's Tauron Basket Liga, the highest level of professional leagues in that country.