KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Former Florida Gulf Coast forward Eric McKnight's bid to play this season for Tennessee as a graduate transfer has been denied by the Southeastern Conference.

Tennessee had announced in May that McKnight planned to play for the Volunteers during the 2014-15 season in his final year of eligibility. But the university announced Tuesday that the SEC had denied McKnight's application for a graduate transfer waiver.

"We have been informed that Eric McKnight has been denied the graduate transfer waiver by the SEC," Tennessee coach Donnie Tyndall said in a statement released by the university. "We pursued this issue through the proper protocol, and I respect the process. Although we are disappointed that Eric will not be joining our program, we are focused on moving forward."