Johnny Coy is coming home.

Citing his father's deteriorating health, Benton's former two-sport standout made the decision to transfer away from Arizona State on Wednesday night and will spend the coming weeks searching for his next destination.

"It was a tough decision, but I just wanted to be closer to home," Coy said. "That's definitely more important than any sport."

Coy signed a basketball scholarship with Arizona State in November, 2007. The Philadelphia Phillies later selected Coy during the 2008 Major League Baseball Amateur draft, but Coy turned down a six-figure professional contract after Arizona State agreed to let him pursue both sports.

The process of playing both sports started this summer, but fate recently intervened to change Coy's plans.

According to Coy, his father - Richard, Sr. - suffered a mild stroke during a hunting trip by himself three weeks ago, adding concern to a long-standing history of medical problems. The development weighed heavily on Coy's mind while he maintained his rigorous class and practice schedule, which includes basketball and baseball.

Following several discussions with family members and coaches, Coy concluded his best option meant leaving the desert and the Pacific 10 school behind.

"That was the final straw for me to come home," Coy said of his father's stroke. "That was something I've always wanted to do was play college ball in front my dad and my family. Now I'll be able to do that."

After choosing to redshirt earlier this season, the 6-foot-8 Southside native will face an easier path to playing time at his next institution. On campus in Tempe, Ariz., for just more than five months, Coy did not play during the regular season for the Sun Devils - thereby retaining his eligibility.

"I was looking to play five, six minutes a game," Coy said. "To me that wasn't good enough. There were some things I had to do to get better as a player, and I didn't want to waste a year on those."

Coy said he still intends to play at a Division I school within a three-hour radius - narrowing his selections to a host of big conference and mid-major options. Arizona State basketball coach Herb Sendek even told Coy he should be able to attain a hardship status, preventing any NCAA transfer restrictions on his eligibility.

Coy said several programs already contacted him - including Drake coach Mark Phelps, who recruited him as an Arizona State assistant. According to Rivals.com, Coy also received interest from Kansas, Missouri, Creighton, Wichita State and UMKC during his recruiting process.

He said he hopes to continue his dual-sport career on the hardwood and the diamond, as well, although not all available schools have both programs.

Coy returned to St. Joseph on Saturday morning with his sister, Annie Roseberry, after a non-stop drive from Arizona. While he readjusts to his hometown, Coy said he will enjoy his time in St. Joseph and already looks back favorably at his short stint with the Sun Devils.

"I don't regret going out there," Coy said. "It worked out with me getting a lot better than I ever thought I could.

"I'm ready to hopefully do my best and get things going again."

Sports reporter Andy Meyer can be reached at andymeyer@npgco.com