Yale basketball star quits team to join Whiffenpoofs a-cappella group

A star player on the Yale basketball team has chosen to give up b-ball for a b-flat after being selected to join the university's elite men's choir group — the Whiffenpoofs. Brandon Sherrod, a 6-foot-6-inch junior who played as a forward on last year's team has been selected as one of the 14 membersof newest generation of Whiffenpoofs, the school's famous male a cappella singing group. Formed in 1909, the group is comprised of rising seniors who take a year off school to travel the world. It counts composer Cole Porter and many other Yale luminaries as former members of the esteemed glee club. Sherrod, who grew up playing basketball in Bridgeport, Conn. and singing in his church choir, said Monday that he spent weeks making what was an extremely tough choice after being tapped to be a "Whiff," a commitment that begins in August. He said he wanted to stay with the Bulldogs, a team that finished this past season 19-14 and is expect to challenge Harvard for the Ivy League basketball title next season. Yale hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 1962. "This is supposed to betheyear, and you want to play with your guys," he said. "But the Whiffenpoofs is a once in a lifetime opportunity." Sherrod still will have a year of eligibility remaining when he re-enters school in the fall of 2015. Head coach James Jones said he'll be welcomed back to the team with a song in his heart.