Junior guard Korie Lucious has been dismissed from the men’s basketball team for the rest of the season, MSU announced Tuesday night.
Lucious told the Lansing State Journal on Wednesday that he is unsure what he will do regarding his future. Earlier in the day, spartannation.com reported Lucious’ mom said her son would transfer.
If Lucious were to transfer, he would have to sit out next season, per NCAA rules, before being allowed to play his senior season.
A statement was issued late Tuesday night regarding Lucious’ dismissal.
“Unfortunately, Korie Lucious displayed conduct detrimental to the program,” MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo said in the statement. “My focus is on this team for the remainder of the season.”
Earlier in the season, Lucious had been suspended for reckless driving.
It is unclear why Lucious was released from the team Tuesday.
“I didn’t live up to the standards of the program,” Lucious said in the statement. “Unfortunately, I let my teammates, my coaches, and myself down, and wish them the best for the rest of the season.”
As of Wednesday morning, there were no new charges against Lucious filed in East Lansing’s 54-B District Court.
Lucious pleaded guilty to one count of reckless driving Sept. 2, 2010 after being arrested Aug. 30, 2010 on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. He was suspended for one exhibition and one regular season game.
This season, Lucious was leading the Spartans with 4.1 assists per game while averaging 6.5 points and 1.7 rebounds per game as well.
Not long before the dismissal was announced, Lucious posted a message from his Twitter account, saying “Man did I really mess up this time…off 2 the gym I go!”
As a sophomore last season, Lucious led the Spartans on a surprising run to the Final Four after then-junior guard Kalin Lucas ruptured his Achilles’ tendon in the second round against Maryland. Lucious made a buzzer-beating 3-point shot to beat Maryland in that game.
Lucious also was suspended one game last season for academic issues.
In August, Izzo removed would-be-senior Chris Allen from the program for failing to meet obligations. Allen then transferred to Iowa State.
The Spartans now are left with a lack of depth at point guard. Without Lucious backing up Lucas, players such as senior guard Mike Kebler and freshman guard Keith Appling could see more time running the point.
On Tuesday, Izzo said Lucas was back to 95 percent health since the Achilles’ injury.
Check statenews.com for updates.
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