Western Kentucky center A’Darius Pegues, who missed his first two seasons on the Hill due to academics and injuries, is transferring to Georgetown College, WKU coach Ken McDonald announced Friday.

Pegues, a 6-foot-10 product of Louisville Western, missed the 2007-08 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during preseason practice. He sat out his freshman campaign after failing to qualify academically for the Hilltoppers.

“A’Darius has decided it is in his best interests at this time to continue his basketball career at Georgetown College,” McDonald said in a statement released by WKU’s sports information office. “We support his decision, and we thank him for his contributions during his time at WKU. We wish him all the best.”

Pegues answered a phone call Friday afternoon to a number listed in the WKU campus directory. After confirming that he is transferring to NAIA power Georgetown, Pegues asked a reporter to call him back later in the day.

Pegues answered a subsequent call but asked if he could call the reporter back shortly; he did not call back by presstime Friday.

Pegues hasn’t played since his junior year at Louisville Western, which happened to be his first season of organized basketball. He missed his senior prep season to injury.

Had Pegues remained with the Hilltoppers, he would have competed for playing time against sophomore center D.J. Magley, junior forward Jeremy Evans, senior forward Mike Walker and senior forward Matt Maresca.

A highly regarded player in high school, Pegues chose WKU over Cincinnati, Georgia, Louisville, Purdue and Xavier.