By Zak Keefer

zak.keefer@indystar.com

The Butler basketball team has lost its third player in five months.

Devontae Morgan, who just completed his sophomore season with the Bulldogs, has requested and been granted release by Butler coach Brandon Miller. He will transfer to another school.

"We appreciate the effort and hard work that Devontae has put forth over the past two years, and we wish him well in the future," Miller said in a school release.

Morgan becomes the third Butler player to transfer during or immediately after the 2013-14 season. Former wing Andrew Smeathers elected to transfer a week before the regular season began in November, and after being suspended on two occasions this year, freshman guard Rene Castro announced he would transfer in February.

Morgan's departure comes as no surprise. The 6-3 guard known primarily for his defense saw his minutes decrease as the season wore on. Morgan only played 6.2 minutes a game and never saw more than 4 in a single game after Big East play began in late December.

He didn't play in 17 games, and was one of three players, along with Castro and freshman Elijah Brown, suspended for one game due to a violation of team rules during the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla., over Thanksgiving weekend.

With Morgan's departure, the Bulldogs will have three scholarships available heading into next season.

The Bulldogs just finished a 14-17 campaign and missed the postseason for the first time since 2005.

Call Star reporter Zak Keefer at (317) 444-6134 and follow him on Twitter: @zkeefer.