After leading Auburn in both scoring and rebounding, combo forward Marco Killingsworth decided he need a fresh start with the departure of Coach Ellis. Tuesday the 6-foot-7, 235-pound lefty announced that he would be transferring to Indiana.

“Yeh, I’m going to be a Hoosier,” said Killingsworth. “Everyone in the world called me, and I listened to them. But Coach Davis caught my attention, and I could really relate to him.

“I needed a fresh start. When coach Ellis left, I was hurt a little bit. I don’t want to talk bad about Auburn, though.”

Killingsworth, who averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds per game last year as a sophomore, will take on a leadership role in the Indiana program as he sits out the 2004-2005 season.

“They want me to come in and be a leader for the younger guys while I am sitting out,” he said. “I am a very skilled player, so I can help the younger players with their fundamentals. When I started out at Auburn I did not have technique, just raw talent. I want to help them develop like I was able to develop.”

Killingsworth actually entered his name into the NBA draft before withdrawing it. Although he would not rule out the possibility of entering the draft after this season, he did say his goal was to play for Indiana.

“I want to do what I can do at Indiana,” he said. “I am a versatile player that can pass and handle and play the one through the five. After two more years I should be a first round pick or even a lottery pick.”