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Yale basketball player leaves team to join a cappella group

Brandon Sherrod won't be with the team for at least a year so he can tour with the Whiffenpoofs.

By Evan Bleier
Brandon Sherrod (Credit: Yalebulldogs.com)
Brandon Sherrod (Credit: Yalebulldogs.com)

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NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 14 (UPI) -- Yale hoops star Brandon Sherrod has decided to forego the ups and downs of a college basketball season to focus on the sharps and flats of a male a cappella for a year.

The junior forward was selected as one of 14 students who will put senior year on hold to tour with the Whiffenpoofs a cappella singing group.

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Composer Cole Porter was a former "Whiff."

The Bulldogs finished at 19-14 this year and were expected to challenge Harvard for the Ivy League basketball title next season.

"It was an incredibly hard decision," Sherrod told the New Haven Register. "But basketball is not my life. I have a lot of other interests and music is one of them."

The Whiffenpoofs are scheduled to sing on every continent except Antarctica next year.

"It would have been great if I was allowed to play this season and then join the group after my senior year," Sherrod said. "That would be ideal. But, they're not going to make exceptions just for me. There's 13 other juniors that would love to graduate with their class and then take a year off to travel and perform before heading into the workforce."

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Sherrod will have a year of eligibility remaining when he comes back to school and head coach James Jones has said he's welcome to rejoin the team.

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