Gaines' ouster leaves 'M' reeling

By Raphael Goodstein

Daily Sports Writer

"Judge them after four years."

Michigan basketball coach Brian Ellerbe repeatedly refused to say that last year's five incoming freshmen would signal a return of the fabulous success that Michigan was accustomed to earlier in the decade.

Unfortunately for Ellerbe and the basketball program, the majority of those freshmen won't be around to be judged two years later, let alone four.

Jamal Crawford left after half of one season to "fulfill his dream" and play in the NBA. Crawford's season was marred when it was discovered that he violated the NCAA's amateurism rule. The NCAA suspended Crawford on two separate occasions for a total of 14 games.

Leland Anderson transferred this summer over concerns about playing time. Anderson was involved in a robbery incident last season that resulted in Ellerbe pleading with a University student not to press criminal charges.

Yesterday, Gaines became the third freshmen to leave the team when he was dismissed for "repeatedly breaking team rules," Ellerbe said last night.

Gaines' final rule infraction was on Monday night, when he was driving freshman Josh Moore's car with freshmen Bernard Robinson and Avery Queen in Taylor, Mich. with a .17 blood alcohol level.

Later on that night, the three got out of the car - on U.S. 24 - and wrestled in the middle of the expressway.

Ellerbe placed Robinson and Queen on probation.

Queen was already on legal probation for assault and battery. Queen beat a 16-year old student with a belt and punched him in the face several times. Queen was sentenced this past May to one year's worth of probation and 50 hours of community service.

"People say that this is a problem, and they're right," athletic director Bill Martin said about the basketball program's repeated negative incidents. "This isn't good."

The bad news came as a shock to Ellerbe, who was at home cooking for the team's annual barbecue, a tradition he has before the first day of school.

"We're human beings and we're dealing with young kids," Ellerbe said. "You're going to have incidents."

Gaines' departure leaves the Wolverines without an established point guard.

Nonetheless, Ellerbe is hopeful that Gaines' dismissal will not ruin the team's chances of competing for an NCAA bid.

"Basketball is a team sport," Ellerbe said. "We have some capable guys who will get the chance to do some things they came here to do."

Gaines averaged 11.7 points points per game and led the team in steals, assists and minutes played.

Freshman Maurice Searight will compete with Queen and junior Leon Jones to start at the one.

Jones was a bench player last season who played both guard positions as well as small forward.

- The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Walking

away

FILE PHOTO

Three-fifths of last season's freshman class won't suit up for the Michigan basketball team this year, leaving only Gavin Groninger and LaVell Blanchard. From left to right: Former Wolverines Kevin Gaines, Leland Anderson and Jamal Crawford.