Gaines kicked off team after arrest

By Geoff Gagnon

Daily Sports Editor

Two months before the already-troubled Michigan basketball team opens its season, coach Brian Ellerbe yesterday announced the dismissal of sophomore guard Kevin Gaines following his arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Gaines was arrested Monday morning in the Detroit suburb of Taylor, where he was accompanied by incoming freshmen team members Avery Queen and Bernard Robinson in the borrowed car of freshman Josh Moore.

All three were arrested in the early morning hours for suspicion of disorderly intoxication after the players were spotted wrestling on the shoulder of Telegraph Road outside their parked car. Gaines, 19, was reported to have a 0.17 percent blood-alcohol level at the time of the arrest. A blood-alcohol level of more than 0.10 is considered legally drunk under Michigan law.

Ellerbe said he was notified of the incident by phone from the three players themselves, who then met with the coach later on Monday.

"They were frightened to say the least," Ellerbe said. "It was very difficult for them, especially for the two young guys."

Gaines' removal from the team came in response to "continual breaking of team rules," Ellerbe said.

The decision to dismiss Gaines left the starting point guard upset, but certainly not surprised, Ellerbe said.

"I think its fairly well-documented that this is not a first time situation for Kevin," the coach said. "I feel worried about Kevin Gaines. Kevin knows how I feel about him. This decision was very well thought-out and all of the proper individuals backed me on it one hundred percent."

Gaines was at the center of several off-court incidents including the alleged theft of a student's palm pilot last winter.

"There's been a number of situations, I don't want to single out any one, but there has been repetitive behavior," Ellerbe said.

Monday's incident is also not the first involving Queen, who arrived in Ann Arbor this semester while on probation for his part in attacking a 16-year-old student while attending Winchendon School in Winchendon, Mass.

The San Bernardino, Calif., native transferred to Redemption Christian Academy in Troy, N.Y., after his arrest on assault and battery charges last December and was ordered to serve one year probation and 50 hours of community service.

Ellerbe said he was unclear whether Monday's incident will affect Queen's previous legal problems.

"I can't comment on that, because I don't know," Ellerbe said, noting he is promptly punishing the players himself.

"They're on probation - my probation," Ellerbe said. "The details I won't elaborate on, but it will be severe and it already has started."

As for Gaines, Ellerbe said he did not know whether the sophomore guard intended to accept an offer from Ellerbe that would allow him to stay at Michigan and keep his scholarship.

"I don't know if he's made that decision," Ellerbe said. "We talked about several options, and I'm sure he'll talk more with his parents, and we'll try to figure out what's best for Kevin."

"The most important thing here is not basketball," Ellerbe said, "it's Kevin's life, and if you knew all what I know, you'd understand that a lot more."

Gaines, a Las Vegas native, started all but one of Michigan's games last season while leading the team in minutes played, averaging 11.7 points per game.

While admittedly unsettled by problems that have plagued his program, Ellerbe said it's important to remember that these problems are not limited to athletes.

"We're human beings and we're dealing with young kids," Ellerbe said. "We're not here to perpetuate these types of things but we are dealing with young student athletes. This is not something that only happens to students."

Gaines is the fourth Michigan player - and the third from his class - to leave the team since the spring.

Last season was a tumultuous year in which a storm of off-court controversies overshadowed a promising 12-3 start that gave way to a disappointing 15-14 finish.

After a year marred by the lengthy suspension of Jamal Crawford, who twice was benched by the NCAA for a series of violations, as well as a number of off-court distractions and off-season transfers, Michigan had hoped to leave last year's struggles behind.

But news of Monday's events left Athletic Director Bill Martin admitting that the continual controversy is upsetting to see.

"People say this is a problem, and they're right." Martin said.

- The Associated Press contributed to this report.

No Gaines for Michigan

It's been a tough off-season for the Michigan basketball program. The dismissal of Kevin Gaines leaves the squad without four major

contributors from last year:

o Forward Brandon Smith left school to play at San Diego State.

o Forward Leland Anderson also left school, but has yet to choose a new school.

o Guard Jamal Crawford opted to enter the NBA Draft after a suspension-laden season.

Gaines