The transfer saga of prospective Oregon State men’s basketball player Marcus Johnson took an unusual turn on Tuesday when the two-time letterman at Connecticut returned home to Southern California to reconsider his future.

A 6-foot-6 wing who starred at Westchester High in Los Angeles, Johnson was on campus on Monday, attended practice that afternoon and was expected to begin classes on Tuesday. However, the financial and logistical implications of attending OSU as a walk-on paying out-of-state tuition and living off-campus without a car led Johnson to head home to consult with his mother and high school coach before making a binding decision.

“He has been admitted into school, and we have two weeks” before Johnson would have to wait until spring term to enroll, OSU coach Jay John said after Tuesday’s practice. “He said he appreciated us giving him the time to think things through.

“We’ll see what happens. At this point I’m not sure” if Johnson will be back. “I thought we had an agreement.”

Johnson started 19 of 31 games at UConn in 2007 and averaged 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 16.7 minutes. He scored in double figures seven times and led the Huskies in steals eight times. For his 51-game UConn career, he averaged 4.9 points and 2.4 rebounds.

“He’s a balanced kid,” John said. “He’s a good student and has experience” in an elite-level program. “He can be beneficial to us.”

Johnson could also delay his OSU enrollment until March and then only have to pay for spring term. Since OSU is using the NCAA-maximum of 13 scholarships, the earliest he can receive athletic financial aid is this summer. Wherever he ends up, he’s not eligible to play until winter term, 2008.

John said the staff will maintain contact with Johnson, but give him enough space to make up his mind without being pressured.

“We’re not going to be breathing down his neck,” he said.

Johnson played six minutes in UConn’s first exhibition game this season and that could potentially cost him his entire junior year of eligibility. His new school could appeal to the NCAA’s Committee on Student Athlete Reinstatement to have that season restored, but it is far from a sure thing.

“In the compliance business, it’s pretty much a standard philosophy not to give anybody false hope,” John said. “But since Myles Brand has been in charge (of the NCAA) it has been a little more athlete-friendly, and responsive to certain appeals that make sense.”