Breaking News: Isaiah Armwood Transferring From Villanova

In major breaking Villanova news, junior captain Isaiah Armwood has decided to transfer from Villanova, according to Jeff Goodman. The decision from Armwood comes just days after 'Nova completed their pre-season trip to Europe.

Armwood and Jay Wright apparently sat down and mutually agreed that if Zeek wanted to play a major role, it'd be best for him to go elsewhere.

``He’s the greatest kid in the world," Wright gushed. ``He’s our hardest-working guy, our captain. We started him every game on our trip. I love him to death."

``I just want to see him achieve his goals," he added.

Armwood started every game for 'Nova in Europe, but was not looking at a major minutes if the box scores were any indication.If he leaves prior to the start of the school year, he'll still have 2 years of eligibility remaining at his future program.

Sources told CBSSports.com that schools in the mix for Armwood are Maryland, Iowa, Texas Tech and George Washington. Armwood grew up near Maryland and GW and both Iowa and Texas Tech have former Villanova assistant coaches – Andrew Francis (Iowa) and Chris Walker (Texas Tech). 

Armwood's impending transfer also frees up that elusive scholarship for 2012 target Amile Jefferson. It's been speculated that Jefferson could announce in September. Hmmmmm.

Quotes from Zeek after The Jump.

Quotes from The Baltimore Sun

Isaiah Armwood on why he's leaving:

“Me and Coach [Jay] Wright sat down, I’d say three or four days ago. We made the decision -- the best decision for me -- to transfer and leave Villanova,” Armwood told Recruiting Report today. “It was very hard. I didn’t want to leave because I’ve been there for so long. I’m so adapted to the people there.”

“There was a good chance I was going to start” this season, Armwood said. “I just wanted to have an opportunity to get to the next level. I thought the best opportunity was at a school other than Villanova.”

Isaiah Armwood on his future:

“Being from Baltimore, Maryland has always been a big school,” Armwood said. “They’ve got a new coaching staff, and they’re just rebuilding the whole team and program. … I could maybe see myself fitting in with what they’re trying to build.”

“[George Washington assistant] coach [Pete] Strickland recruited me out of high school [when he was at North Carolina State]. Coach [Kevin] Sutton, he’s an assistant coach and I’ve played against him many times [when he was the coach at Montverde Academy in Florida]. I know him very well. I’m real familiar with what they do. I think that would be a good possibility.”

“[Iowa's] a lot like Villanova, the way they do things,” Armwood said. “I like the way Villanova did things.”

“The coaches [Texas Tech] are real good and they’re in a real good conference,” Armwood said. “I could see myself fitting in with the way they play, running the high-low offense.”

“They’re [Virginia] in the ACC obviously,” he said. “I don’t know much about them, but that’s another school I’m considering.”

“The process is just talking to the coaches, seeing what they have to offer, seeing what schools best fit me and everything,” Armwood said. “It’s more about basketball than the school or the campus right now. … I just want to be able to exploit everything I can do. I don’t want to be limited in any things I can do.”