Horn lands 6-8 transfer from Tennessee

Danny Schoenbaechler

A new Western basketball player got a late start to class this week.

Elgrace Wilborn, a transfer from the University of Tennessee, has enrolled at Western and started classes on Tuesday.

Alevia Cavitt, Wilborn’s mother, said her son enrolled after the two of them visited campus last week and met with Western’s players and coaches.

“It was a decision we made together,” she said. “I liked the setting and the people were very cordial.”

Repeated phone calls to Western coach Darrin Horn were not returned.

Wilborn will have to sit out this season, but will still have two years of eligibility left starting with the 2004-05 season.

The twist in otherwise great news for Hilltopper faithful is why Wilborn left Tennessee.

Volunteer coach Buzz Peterson kicked Wilborn off the team after he punched a teammate over the summer.

On June 6, Wilborn was arrested and charged with aggravated assault for punching teammate Brandon Clump and breaking his jaw.

The two were roommates, and the incident occurred in their apartment.

In a June press release announcing his dismissal from the team, Wilborn issued a brief apology to Clump.

“I am sorry to Brandon Clump especially,” Wilborn said. “Also, I am sorry to his family for this incident.”

Wilborn averaged 2.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last season as a sophomore. He averaged 17 minutes, but with 1.55 blocked shots per game, he was sixth in the Southeastern Conference.

When Wilborn does play for Western, his presence could fill a large vacancy among the Topper big men.

The 6-foot-8 forward could help bolster a Hilltopper front court which will lose senior center Nigel Dixon and could lose forward Todor Pandov after this season.

Cavitt said that Western is a great opportunity for her son.

“He’s very excited about getting a new start,” she said. “I hope this is a good fit for him.”

With Wilborn’s attitude bound to receive scrutiny, Cavitt said she was pleased to hear how eager her son was to start class.

“He said, ‘Mom, I just want to get back in school,'” Cavitt said. “We really want him to get a degree, so he can provide for himself in life.”

Reach Danny Schoenbaechler at [email protected].