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Izzo on Kaminski's transfer — "Kaminski could not live up to the obligations necessary to be a part of our program"

August 2, 2014
<p>Head coach Tom Izzo talks to freshman forward Kenny Kaminski on the bench March 6, 2014, at Breslin Center during the game against Iowa. The Spartans defeated the Hawkeyes, 86-76. Julia Nagy/The State News</p>

Head coach Tom Izzo talks to freshman forward Kenny Kaminski on the bench March 6, 2014, at Breslin Center during the game against Iowa. The Spartans defeated the Hawkeyes, 86-76. Julia Nagy/The State News

Photo by Julia Nagy | The State News

UPDATE: MSU released a statement from basketball head coach Tom Izzo on Monday evening. According to Izzo, Kaminski was dismissed from the team. 

"Despite multiple opportunities, Kenny Kaminski could not live up to the obligations necessary to be a part of our program," Izzo said in the statement. "Being a Spartan is a special opportunity, and at Michigan State we do everything we can to provide an amazing experience for our student-athletes. With that privilege also comes a responsibility to conduct oneself in a certain manner. After he repeatedly failed to meet the necessary obligations, it became apparent that it was time to dismiss Kenny from the program.

?"Although this is disappointing, it is just a minor setback as we are coming off one of the best summers in recent years," the statement continued. "I remain excited about the prospects of our team moving forward. We have a group of individuals dedicated to a common goal and they are willing to do whatever it takes to reach their lofty standards, and ready to push each other to be the best they can be.?"


Redshirt freshman forward Kenny Kaminski is transferring from MSU. 

The 6-foot-8 wing from Medina, Ohio, who led the Big Ten in 3-point shooting percentage last season with a .494 clip, announced his transfer via Twitter on Saturday evening. According to the tweet, Kaminski has yet to decide where he will transfer. 

An MSU spokesman said the university has no comment on the matter. 

Kaminski entered last season with a chip on his shoulder following a redshirted 2012-13 campaign due to a right shoulder injury that caused him to miss most of his senior season at Medina High School.

That chip only grew after basketball head coach Tom Izzo suspended Kaminski before the start of last season due to academic issues, causing him to miss both exhibition games and the first game of the season. 

Kaminski was suspended a second time on December 14, leading Izzo to question his maturity. 

“Coaches for the most part are going to give kids second, third and fourth chances. But Kenny has got to grow up," Izzo said at the time. And growing up means that me and him are running out of chances — he may do it my way or he is going to hit the highway.”

Kaminski appeared in 31 games last season and averaged 4.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in roughly 12 minutes per game.

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