Canisius College men's basketball coach Jim Baron announced today that three players have been granted a release from their commitment to the Golden Griffin men's basketball program and will be transferring. 

Canisius junior Gaby Belardo, sophomore David Santiago and freshman Franklin Milian will not be returning to Canisius for the 2012-13 academic year.

Belardo, who completed his undergraduate degree work at the College in December 2011, will be looking to exercise an NCAA transfer rule that allows student-athletes to play immediately once he has enrolled in a graduate program at a new school that is not offered by Canisius College. Belardo played in 56 career games in Blue and Gold, where he averaged 11.1 points and 3.3 assists per contest. He joined the Canisius active roster in 2010-11 after sitting out one year in accordance with NCAA transfer rules. He started his college basketball career at South Florida in 2008-09.