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Shantay Legans, Cal’s starting point guard for the past three seasons, may not return to the Golden Bear program for his senior year, his mother said this week. 

Legans’ mother told the San Francisco Chronicle that her son has asked for a release from his scholarship. 

“He has asked for his release,” Susan Legans said. “He has not received it yet. He has told Coach (Ben) Braun that he does not want to come back.” 

Legans averaged 8.1 points and 3.8 assists last season for a Cal team that made the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. But Legans was reportedly upset when former walk-on A.J. Diggs took over the starting role for a few games in the middle of the season. 

Susan Legans mentioned Fresno State, DePaul, UC Santa Barbara and Long Beach State as possible destinations for her son if he is granted a release. New Fresno State head coach Ray Lopes adopted Shantay Legans through the “Big Brother” program when the player was in the fifth grade. 

“Ray’s really the only father Shantay knows,” she said. “I think it’s always been a dream of his to play for Ray Lopes. But I know there are other schools he’s also interested in.” 

Cal can choose not to release Legans from his scholarship. According to a university source, Braun wants to meet with Legans face-to-face before he makes a decision. The coaching staff is on a retreat for the next three days. 

It has been a topsy-turvy summer for Braun’s program. Freshman Jamal Sampson made a surprising jump into the NBA Draft, then junior Gabriel Hughes decided to transfer before changing his mind last week. Israeli big man Yaniv Green flirted with the idea of joining the Bears before backing out, then Braun added 6-foot-9 Jordi Geli Vilardell of Spain.