Former UWM signee follows Pearl to Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A guard who originally signed with coach Bruce Pearl at Wisconsin-Milwaukee is transferring to Tennessee, Pearl announced Thursday.<br> <br> Anthony Passley will sit out this season per NCAA transfer rules and have three years of eligibility left.<br> <br> Passley attended summer school at Milwaukee last year but then asked Pearl for a release and transferred to Redlands Community College in El Reno, Okla. Pearl was hired this spring at Tennessee.<br> <br> ``I&#39;ve always believed in Tony, and through the entire process I have gotten really close with his family,&#39;&#39; Pearl said. ``I wanted to coach him in Milwaukee and I am excited about coaching him here in Tennessee. Tony&#39;s athleticism and toughness should serve him well at this level.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Passley averaged 10.3 points and 5.5 rebounds at Redlands last season.<br> <br> He averaged 17.2 points and 7.5 rebounds as a senior at Indianapolis North Center High School.<br> <br> Passley&#39;s younger brother, sophomore Cordell Passley, reportedly verbally committed to Tennessee in May.<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)