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The reason? Homesickness.

"It had nothing to do with the coaching staff or any of the players at Pitt," said Ryan Pannone, an assistant coach at Oldsmar (Fla.) Christian Academy, from where Ferguson played. "He wanted to be closer to his family, so he decided to transfer."

Actually, Ferguson, a 6-foot-5 swingman whose style of play has been compared to that of Larry Bird, never enrolled at Pitt. He spent much of the summer on campus, but, according to Pannone, determined it wasn't for him.

"He's either going to go to an in-state school or a prep school," Pannone said. "If he were to go to an out-of-state college, it would have been Pitt."

Ferguson did not return a phone call seeking comment, but Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said he has offered Ferguson his full support.

"We've just got to help him out as best we can," Dixon said. "It's a personnel change for us. Guys come and go all the time, and this is just an opportunity now for some other guys."

Also yesterday, Dixon confirmed that junior guard Mike Cook, who led East Carolina in scoring (15.0 ppg.) last season, has enrolled at Pitt.

The 6-4 Cook, a product of Friends Central High School in Philadelphia who first revealed on Aug. 1 that he would leave the Conference USA school to join the Panthers, will sit out this season with two years of eligibility remaining.

"We're excited ... He is a proven player who has performed at a high level," Dixon said. "We look forward to his continued development during his redshirt season and his contributions (beginning in 2006-07)."

Ferguson, who averaged 26.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game as a senior at Oldsmar Christian, was among five players to sign with Pitt for this season. The others -- forwards Tyrell Biggs, Sam Young and junior college transfer Doyle Hudson and guard Levance Fields -- already are enrolled.

Classes began Monday at Pitt.

Dixon already has one verbal commitment for his next recruiting class, from 6-6 forward Gilbert Brown of South Kent (Conn.) Prep. The Panthers have two more scholarships available for their 2006-07 recruiting class.

In Florida yesterday, Oldsmar Christian assistant Pannone said Ferguson credited Dixon and Pitt assistant Joe Lombardi for the positive impression they made on him.

"Trevor's mother passed away from cancer when he was a junior here, and he just has this special feeling for the area where he was raised," Pannone said.

"Trevor went to Pittsburgh in the summer and added 10 pounds. He had a great time, but people forget that he didn't visit Pitt before this. Those winters are something else up there. I just don't think he felt he could adjust."

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