NC State's Kyle Washington transferring to Cincinnati

Cincinnati has announced that former NC State forward Kyle Washington has joined its basketball program.

The news was first reported by Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

The 6-foot-9, four-star recruit will sit out next season, per NCAA transfer rules. He will be eligible to join the team for the 2016-17 season and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

"Kyle Washington is a great addition to our program and university," head coach Mick Cronin said in a statement. "He is a first-class young man from a wonderful family. Kyle has great basketball talent to go with his size and athletic ability. He also has great fire and determination and a desire to get better which has me excited to start working with him this summer.

"I believe with a year to build up his body and practice with us, Kyle will have a chance to be a great player in 2016-17."

The Champlin, Minn., native averaged 6.8 points and 4.1 rebounds last season for the Wolfpack, who reached the Sweet Sixteen before bowing out to Louisville.

Washington, who started 18 games in the 2014-15 season, is expected to eventually replace Octavius Ellis in the Bearcats' starting lineup.