As it turned out, the tallest player in Auburn basketball history had one of the shortest careers in memory.

Freshman center Boubacar Sylla has left the team. The 7-foot-1, 275-pounder, who missed most of last season with an ankle injury, is transferring to Wyoming. He will be eligible to play for the Cowboys starting in the 2009-10 season.

“I’m extremely excited to add a player the caliber of Boubacar to our program,” Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer said in a press release. “He not only brings great size but outstanding skills to our team.”

Sylla prompted high hopes in his AU debut, scoring 8 points and snagging six rebounds in an exhibition game against Bluefield College.

But the regular season brought much less success for Sylla, who injured his ankle in AU’s second regular-season game. He played one minute in the Tigers’ next game, but the injury forced him to the sideline, where he remained in street clothes for the remainder of the season.

He finished with 3 points scored and three rebounds in 13 minutes of playing time.

“Boubacar had a very difficult first year at Auburn University,” Auburn coach Jeff Lebo said in a statement released by the school. “Along with his season-ending injury, Boubacar had a hard time adjusting to Auburn.”

The 21-year-old Sylla, a native of Paris, France, came to Auburn from Stoneridge Prep in Simi Valley, Calif.

In January, Lebo said Auburn would apply for a medical redshirt on Sylla’s behalf.

Sylla is the second Auburn player to transfer in the past six weeks. Junior center Matt Heramb departed in April.

Sylla is the 13th scholarship player — and the eighth Lebo signee — to leave the team since Lebo arrived in May of 2004.

Auburn returns six scholarship players next season. That number includes forward Josh Dollard, who didn’t play last season due to what the school called “medical reasons,” and forward Vot Barber, who missed the final 20 games with a broken hand.

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