More Hawks Fly from Nest: Peterson, Palmer join list of Hawkeye transfers

Iowa men's basketball coach Todd Lickliter held a press conference Friday afternoon, confirming the rumors that have been surrounding the basketball team this week.

Lickliter confirmed that Jermain Davis, Jake Kelly, Jeff Peterson, and David Palmer will be leaving the team and transferring to other schools.

Peterson played in 25 games this season before suffering hamstring injury. Peterson averaged 10.6 points and 4.2 assists per game. Palmer played in 19 games this season, averaging 4.1 points and 2 rebounds per game.

According to Lickliter, three of the players (Peterson, Davis, and Palmer) wanted to transfer to a school where they would receive more playing time and play a more "prominent role." He expressed his full support to Jake Kelly, who appears to be transferring to Indiana State to be closer to his family. Kelly's mother was tragically killed in a plane crash last year.

Despite four players transferring, Lickliter was optimistic about the state of the program. "We’re on the right track," he said, "Sometimes it’s a little dark before the dawn. We’re going to get through. We’re going to move forward."

But it's hard for fans to be optimistic after two consecutive losing seasons (28-36 over the past two years) and dealing with five players transferring over the past two years. Only seven players will be returning the the team next season: Matt Gatens, Devan Bawinkel, Anthony Tucker, Andrew Brommer, Aaron Fuller, John Lickliter, and Jarryd Cole. Plus written committments from Eric May and Brennan Cougill, and a verbal from Devon Archie.

"I'm very excited about the future," Lickliter said. Iowa AD Gary Barta was also in attendance at the press conference, giving Coach Lickliter his vote of confidence.

By the Numbers: Here's what the Hawks are losing statistically...

Kelly: 11.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists

Peterson: 10.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists

Davis: 4.5 points, 3 rebounds, 1.6 assists

Palmer: 4.1 points, 2 rebounds

*For those bad at math that's about 31 points, 10 rebounds, ad 9 assists per game. Not to mention the 7 points and 5.7 rebounds that Cyrus Tate provided.