Ex-Iowa recruit Hubbard transfers to Morgan State

Anthony Hubbard, the 26-year-old ex-convict who left the Iowa program before ever suiting up, has landed at Morgan State.

Hubbard, who served nearly four years in prison after being convicted for his role in a home robbery, was on the campus only a month this summer before deciding to transfer to a school closer to his Woodbridge, Va., home.

"Everybody I talked to told me Anthony was a good kid," Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman told The Des Moines Register. "People make mistakes in life. Some of us get more attention than others. But everybody deserves to move on. I made a mistake in my professional career, got another chance and made the most of it.

All I can say is Anthony wanted to come back closer to home. People change their minds sometimes. Things happen and we welcome him with open arms.

Hubbard, a 6-5 guard, received his GED in prison and then attended Odessa (Texas) and Frederick (Md.) junior colleges before picking Iowa over 50 other Division I scholarship offers.

Since he never played for the Hawkeyes, he'll be eligible immediately at Morgan State. Hubbard could be a difference-maker for the Bears, who were picked by Sporting News to finish second in the MEAC. Bozeman landed at Morgan State in '06 and has led the Bears to two NCAA Tournament appearances in the last three years.

Stories in recent weeks surfaced that perhaps Hubbard, because of his troubled past, was pushed to leave Iowa. Hawkeyes coach Fran McCaffery says that wasn't the case.

"Things happen in recruiting," McCaffery told The Register. "I don't take anything personally. I still think the world of the kid. I think hes going to be great. I hope he gets his degree, has two good years and then hopefully plays some professional basketball.

"He decided to transfer. That was it."