UPDATE: Cooler heads prevail as Walker returns

In a surprising development, freshman point guard Jordan Walker has quit Seton Hall's basketball team after playing in just two games.

The news was first reported by 247Sports recruiting analyst Andrew Slater.

Walker, a former Patrick School standout who projected to be the program’s playmaker of the future after apprenticing under senior Khadeen Carrington this season, bolted because he didn’t play against Rutgers on Saturday, Gannett New Jersey confirmed.

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But Walker, who prior to Saturday had been sidelined for a month by torn ligaments in his hand, had been a handful for the Pirates’ coaching staff behind the scenes since he arrived on campus, according to multiple people familiar with the program’s inner workings.

Patrick School coach Chris Chavannes, who has a close relationship with Seton Hall’s coaches, said by phone Tuesday that he’s shocked and disappointed with the news. He had just found out about it himself.

“I did not see this coming,” Chavannes said.

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Walker’s departure leaves the Pirates with nine eligible players. Transfers Taurean Thompson and Quincy McKnight are sitting out per NCAA rules, and junior center Romaro Gill is destined for a redshirt barring injuries in the Hall's frontcourt.

Walker averaged 3.5 points and 2.0 assists in 28 minutes as a Pirate. At Rutgers on Saturday he was cleared to play and back in uniform for the first time since mid-November, but he didn't enter the action as the Pirates fell in a 71-65 upset.

His absence could be impactful because Walker was the only pure point guard on the roster. Carrington is a former shooting guard making the transition to point, which is why his backup has a critical role.

Sophomore Eron Gordon, a combo guard who began the season behind Walker on the Pirates' depth chart, will continue in the backup point guard role. Gordon has played well in spurts, averaging 2.1 points and shooting .571 from the field while logging 15 assists compared to nine turnovers.

Three players left Seton Hall midseason last year: point guard Jevon Thomas, wing Veer Singh and forward Myles Carter. Thomas was a disciplinary problem and Carter was dismissed for academic reasons.

Staff Writer Jerry Carino: jcarino@gannettnj.com