Maurice Searight”s days as a Wolverine are over.
- Paul Wong
- Maurice Searight was kicked off the team for unspecified team violations.<br><br>AP PHOTO
Wednesday, Michigan basketball coach Tommy Amaker announced that the freshman guard had been dismissed from the program. The action was taken in response to a “violation of team policies.”
Amaker was both kind and brief when discussing Searight.
“We certainly appreciate Maurice”s efforts here at the University,” Amaker said in a released statement. “We would like to wish him well and assist him with any help and direction he needs to further his collegiate basketball career. There will be no further comment on this matter.”
Searight”s career ended after playing in just 19 games. During that time he averaged 2.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 13.2 minutes per game.
Before coming to Michigan, Searight was an outstanding football and basketball player. He led Orchard Lake St. Mary”s basketball to the Michigan state title in 2000 with an undefeated season. Averaging 16 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists as a senior, Searight was rated by Preps Spotlight as the No. 3 prospect in Michigan upon his departure.
When he arrived in Ann Arbor, Searight started strong. In his first game against Oakland, the 6-foot-2 freshman hit all seven of his shots to finish with a career-high 14 points.
But the good days quickly turned sour for Searight. His playing time dropped substantially and his behavior began to cause his team additional headaches.
On December 30 Searight was suspended for the game against Eastern Michigan for violating unspecified team rules.
It appeared as though the problems might have ended when Searight posted six points in 22 minutes against Ohio State on January 18.
But on February 10, Searight skipped a team practice and never played for Michigan again.
“He”s suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules. He”s suspended until I change my mind, and right now I have not changed it,” then-Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said in his Monday press conference that week. “We”re definitely trying to teach him life lessons, just like any other kid.”
If Searight wants to learn his lessons at another Division I school, he will have to sit out for a year before returning to the court.