Pubdate: Sat, 07 Feb 2004
Source: Burlington Times-News (NC)
Contact  http://www.thetimesnews.com/
Feedback: 
http://www.thetimesnews.com/contact/editor.html
Address: PO. Box 481, St Burlington NC 27215
Fax: (336)229-2463
Copyright: 2004 The Times-News Publishing Company
Author: Nate DeGraff
Note: This article is posted as an exception to MAP policies not to archive 
minor pre-trial arrest stories, and not to alter archived articles from 
what is published.  In light of the novelty of these charges, in a 
justified exception to our usual policies, this article is archived with 
the names of the accused redacted.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

COACH: [NAME DELETED] OFF TEAM

MEBANE - [NAME DELETED] and two of his teammates will not play basketball 
again this year for Eastern Alamance High School, their coach said Friday 
night.

The decision halts the prep career of [NAME DELETED] , the state's all-time 
leading scorer and a University of North Carolina signee, and throws his 
promising basketball future into doubt. The announcement by coach John 
Moon, who did not mention the players by name, came two days after [NAME 
DELETED]  and 49 other students were arrested as part of a sweeping drug 
raid at area high schools.

Authorities had planted undercover officers in the schools after school 
administrators learned that substance abuse and dealing was getting out of 
hand.

Moon told a group of reporters after Eastern's game Friday night that it 
was he, not school administrators, who made the final decision to dismiss 
[NAME DELETED]  and the others from the team. He said he simply carried out 
a behavioral policy that was explained to each player at the start of the 
season. He made the call as soon as he heard about the arrests.

"That decision was made that day - instantaneously," said Moon.

[NAME DELETED] , an 18-year-old senior, faces eight marijuana-related 
charges, six of which are felonies. The other two players dismissed from 
the team are [NAME DELETED] , 17, and a juvenile.

The announcement capped an emotional week for Moon and the rest of the 
school, which has received national media attention since Wednesday's 
busts. Most of the coverage has focused on [NAME DELETED] , a 6-foot-3 
guard who is averaging more than 40 points per game and committed to UNC 
nearly two years ago.

UNC coach Roy Williams has largely stayed away from the issue, saying he'll 
be the one to make a decision on [NAME DELETED] 's playing status. UNC 
applicants must provide an explanation to the school if they've been out of 
school for reasons other "routine vacations, disability-related reasons, or 
school-related activities," according to the freshman application. [NAME 
DELETED]  and the others were issued long-term suspensions of more than 10 
days. [NAME DELETED]  and his family could not be reached for comment.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman