Former Kentucky basketball forward Tai Wynyard headed to Santa Clara

Fletcher Page | Courier Journal

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Former Kentucky basketball player Tai Wynyard is headed to Silicon Valley.

The 6-foot-10, New Zealand native will transfer to Santa Clara and play for coach Herb Sendek, Wynyard announced via his Instagram account Friday.

Wynyard totaled 19 points and 27 rebounds in 97 minutes across 23 games during his UK career. He appeared in only eight games last season as a redshirt sophomore due to a back injury and a suspension announced in February.

Courier Journal reported after Wynyard's suspension that UK fraternity and sorority members used a group messaging app to warn each other about a potentially dangerous student who allegedly carried a gun to a party in January and said he was protecting Wynyard. The alleged bodyguard, Aaron Steele, is no longer enrolled in classes at UK. He was arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge in February after police said he struck a woman and threw her against a wall.

More on UK basketball: John Calipari talking to NBA teams about UK players testing out draft

UK has not confirmed if that incident was the cause of Wynyard's suspension.

"I’m happy @taiwynyard decided on Santa Clara," Calipari tweeted Friday. "Coach Herb Sendek is a friend from Pittsburgh. He was an assistant at Kentucky in the 90s. I’m looking forward to watching and rooting for them!"

Wynyard announced last month he would no longer continue his career at Kentucky.

"This decision wasn’t an easy one for me to make and I appreciate the commitment and support Coach (John Calipari) and the staff gave me in reaching it," Wynyard said in a release. "My goals haven’t changed. After meeting with Cal, something that he always talks about is doing what’s best for the individual. Everyone is on a different path. Although that path will be somewhere else, I’ll never forget this place. From day one, beginning with my first home game vs. Louisville in 2015, this place has shown me nothing but love. I want to thank you for your support. Kentucky will always hold a special place in my heart."

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