Two leave Idaho basketball program

Two University of Idaho Vandals whose playing time decreased during the Big West Conference season won’t return to the program, men’s basketball coach Leonard Perry said Friday.

Sophomore wing Dillon Higdon, who started nine games, and junior guard Tihon Johnson, a co-captain, are expected to transfer, Perry said. Both remain enrolled at Idaho this semester.

“We enjoyed Dillon’s time here and thought he did a good job for us,” Perry said. “We understand his desire to be closer to home.”

Higdon prepped at Park Hill South in Kansas City, Mo. The 6-foot-4 Higdon averaged 4.5 points this season. Of Higdon’s 46 field goals, 31 were 3-pointers. He averaged 15.3 minutes per game, 11.9 in Big West contests.

Higdon saw limited playing time in 20 games as a true freshman.

Idaho’s last game turned out to be Higdon’s best. He finished with career highs in minutes (37), points (19) and steals (five) as the Vandals lost to UC Irvine in the first round of the Big West tournament. Higdon had four other games in double figures, all in the first three weeks of the season.

Higdon’s potential options include University of Missouri-Kansas City, a Division I school in the Mid-Continent Conference.

Johnson, a transfer from Mt. San Jacinto (Calif.) College, shot 34.3 percent from the floor and 42.9 at the free-throw line. The 6-3 guard, a native of Columbus, Ohio, didn’t score in his last five appearances. He tallied a career-high nine points against Cal Poly in early February.

“It was an adjustment for a JC player, as it always is,” Perry said. “He lost some confidence and he was never really able to get out of the little slump he got in offensively.”

Johnson was named a co-captain during preseason drills, even though he hadn’t played in a game with the Vandals. He’ll probably transfer to a Division II school.

“I wish him nothing but the best,” Perry said. “He’s a super kid and I’ll help him any way I can.”

Attempts to contact Higdon and Johnson were unsuccessful.