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Transfer season arrived for Arizona's basketball team Monday, and this time there was a little twist.

Freshman guard Laval Lucas-Perry, a promising defender and shooter who excelled in the classroom, opted to transfer Monday despite having already burned his freshman-year eligibility. He played in five of the Wildcats' first eight games, averaging 9.8 minutes per game.

After sitting out the required year in residence at a school he has yet to determine, Lucas-Perry will be eligible as a sophomore with just 2 1/2 seasons left to play.

"I explained that all to him," UA interim head coach Kevin O'Neill said, shrugging in frustration.

But it did not work. O'Neill said Lucas-Perry and his father, Laval Perry, met with O'Neill for about 10 minutes early Monday afternoon to explain their decision.

"I guess he decided eight games was enough," O'Neill said. "They said their minds were made up so I respect their position. I wish him the best of luck wherever he's going."

Lucas-Perry, named all-state in both football and basketball as a Michigan prep, became the 12th UA player to transfer in the past decade. He is the eighth to do so between the start of school and the spring semester, when players can still leave and become eligible for most of the next season at another school. Players who leave before they play in a game also do not jeopardize a year of eligibility.

Although O'Neill said he was a little surprised, neither side expressed any bitterness. Laval Perry said he had cordial talks with both O'Neill and athletics director Jim Livengood.

"It was a very good conversation we had," Perry said. "There's no animosity. Nothing bad to say. It just wasn't a fit at this time."

Lucas-Perry, who was planning on majoring in business, was one of several Wildcats who have played heavily off the bench or not at all since O'Neill took over for Lute Olson on Nov. 4. O'Neill, who said he bases his rotation for each game largely on "feel," said Lucas-Perry never gave him any direct indication he was upset.

But, O'Neill added: "Everybody that doesn't play is frustrated. It's unfortunate, but it is what it is."

Now, O'Neill has reason to be frustrated. The Wildcats are left with only four guards this season and will be without a potentially bigger contributor over the next three seasons, too. In addition, NCAA rules prohibit the transfer of scholarships during the school year, preventing walk-on Bret Brielmaier from being placed on scholarship.

"I asked him if I could change his mind, and he said no," O'Neill said. "I don't want him to leave. I'd love to see him stay. He's a great kid, a good student, a good player."

Lucas-Perry would have faced some obstacles, however. Even if freshman Jerryd Bayless leaves after this season for the NBA, the Wildcats will bring in the nation's top point guard recruit, Brandon Jennings, next season. Then there's Top 25 point guard Abdul Gaddy who has committed for the 2009-10 season.

But Perry said his son's decision was not necessarily because of playing time, or even the transition from Olson to O'Neill.

"I don't think it's one item," Lucas said. "I don't think it was off the court or even on the court. Laval felt it was a good school."

Perry indicated his son bonded with O'Neill via extensive individual workouts during the fall, and Lucas-Perry's mother, Patricia Ann Lucas (Patricia Ann Lucas), said their son was getting along well with both O'Neill and Olson.

"He loves coach O'Neill. He loves Lute," she said. "So there was nothing wrong with the program. Arizona has a top-notch program. He just felt he might have better options elsewhere."

Olson took an indefinite leave of absence on Nov. 4 and extended it for the rest of the season on Dec. 6. All five of the UA freshman Olson signed in November 2006 have not been coached by Olson, except for brief preseason workouts and the first three weeks of regular practices.

"There's no barrier there," Perry said. "Laval was a little disappointed, like everyone else was, that coach Olson wasn't there. But when coach O'Neill came in … the two of them got along well. I don't think that was a major issue."

Perry said he was not sure where his son would transfer to, except that he wouldn't play for another Pac-10 school. Perry played for Dick Vitale at Detroit and Lucas-Perry's sister, Victoria, starred at Michigan State last season, but Perry said his son was not limited geographically.

Lucas-Perry was not immediately available for comment Monday, and Perry said his son has been reluctant to speak about the transfer.

"At this time, he doesn't want to talk to too many people," Perry said. "This is still a major thing on his mind. If this was a total disaster, he'd be jumping up and down. But it was a tough decision for him."

● Forward Jordan Hill was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week for the first time Monday after scoring 23 points, with 14 rebounds and three blocks, in UA's 78-72 overtime win over Illinois on Saturday.

● The Wildcats held a full 150-minute practice Monday despite having a full week before their next game, Sunday against Fresno State. Wing Chase Budinger practiced fully despite bruising his elbow in overtime Saturday.