From left, University of Iowa Director of Athletics Gary Barta, University of Iowa Men's Basketball Player Anthony Hubbard, and University of Iowa Men's Basketball Head Coach Fran McCaffery answer questions at an afternoon press conference inside Kinnick Stadium on the campus of the University of Iowa in Iowa City on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. (Matt Nelson/SourceMedia Group News)

IOWA CITY — Less than one month ago in front of a state media contingent, Anthony Hubbard sat between Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta and men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery and talked of trust and not letting anyone down.

“If a person meets me and doesn’t like me in any way, they have some reservations about me, that’s kind of a personal problem, I’d say,” Hubbard said on June 15. “I feel like I’m a good person. I’ve grown from my past, and I’m ready to move on.”

Moving on, a subject Hubbard now knows all too well. The 26-year-old felon from Woodbridge, Va., left the Iowa men’s basketball program Thursday. Hubbard, a 6-foot-5 guard/forward, can transfer to another school without restriction and be eligible right away. His departure leaves a mark on an Iowa program still recovering from public relations disasters over the last decade.

In a statement Thursday, McCaffery expressed disappointment over Hubbard’s decision to leave. McCaffery was out of town recruiting and unavailable for comment.

“Obviously, we’re disappointed. We invested a substantial amount of time and energy in the recruitment of Anthony.  The positive is that we learn today of Anthony’s decision versus learning of it in August or September,” McCaffery said in the statement.

During the June 15 news conference, McCaffery understood his reputation was on the line in Hubbard’s recruitment. McCaffery publicly supported Hubbard on June 15 and said Hubbard’s past transgressions were a non-issue once he started heavily recruiting him.

“I don’t really believe it to be as big of a chance as everybody else seems to think it is because I’ve done my homework and I believe in the guy sitting next to me,” McCaffery said.

But McCaffery, a second-year coach, also understood how the situation appeared to the general public.

“I’m a realist,” McCaffery said. “I know what the climate is.”

Hubbard was arrested in 2003 for acting as the lookout and driver in a home robbery. He was arrested and served four years in prison. He was released from prison in 2007 and eventually received his GED. He played college basketball at two junior colleges — Odessa (Texas) and Frederick (Md.) — and became an All-America at the latter. He compiled a 3.2 GPA.

Hubbard was highly recruited by up to 50 Division I colleges during his sophomore season. In April he picked Iowa over Nebraska. This summer he played in seven Prime Time League games, including on Tuesday night, and averaged 23.7 points. Hubbard was expected to compete for a starting spot on the basketball team.

But by Thursday Hubbard had bolted Iowa’s program. Attempts to reach Hubbard were unsuccessful, but he provided a final statement.

“I truly appreciate the tremendous opportunity Coach McCaffery, the basketball staff and everyone at the University of Iowa provided me,” Hubbard said. “The community and the school and the people were fantastic.  However, at this time, I plan to work with my junior college coach and family to select another school perhaps closer to home.”

Barta released a statement, then declined further comment through his secretary.

“I am disappointed for Fran, our staff and the other staff on our campus that were involved from the start on what was clearly a very unique recruiting process,” Barta said in the statement. “It’s unfortunate it hasn’t worked out as we had hoped. We, of course, wish Anthony the very best.”

Last month Barta said there was scrutiny with Hubbard’s recruitment, primarily because of his crime. But he refused to compare Hubbard with former basketball player Pierre Pierce, who twice was accused of sexual assault and later served prison time for the second arrest.

“Every time we bring a new young person to campus through the recruiting process … the risk is if they make a bad decision, it’s their responsibility and it’s ours,” Barta said in June. “Maybe because it was more public and the stigma that goes with having made the bad decision, maybe from that perspective it was more scrutinized.”