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Alcorn dismisses leading scorer
Junior center Cook broke too many team rules, Whitney says
By Mark Alexander
malexander@clarionledger.com
Alcorn State center Lee Cook was dismissed from the team Wednesday for repeated violations of team rules.
The 6-foot-10 junior was the Braves' leading scorer (16.7 ppg.) and rebounder (6.9 rpg). He ranked fifth and fourth, respectively, in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in those categories.
"He's gone," Alcorn State coach Dave Whitney said Wednesday following practice. "He broke too many team rules. It's unfortunate that this situation had to happen.
"It's a big loss. It will hurt us height-wise, scoring-wise and rebounding-wise. But we'll survive. Rules are made to be kept. You can't allow someone to constantly break those rules and not do anything about it."
Cook didn't accompany the team on its trip to Alabama this past weekend. Alcorn beat Alabama A&M Saturday and lost to Alabama State Monday to move to 5-15 overall and 3-5 in the SWAC.
He was injured in practice earlier in the week, and he informed Whitney there was no reason for him to make the trip if he wasn't going to play.
Whitney informed the Omaha, Neb., product of his decision Wednesday in a meeting held along with athletic director Robert Raines.
JUCO transfer Rhau-Chavis Landfair, 6-10, will replace Cook in the starting lineup, Whitney said.
Cook has been in and out of Whitney's doghouse since arriving on The Reservation three years ago. He averaged 9.8 points. 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots per game last year as a sophomore playing behind Walter Harper and Marcus Fleming.
In the SWAC Tournament championship game against Alabama State, Cook had 16 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots, helping Alcorn to a narrow victory that sent the Braves to the NCAA Tournament.
Junior center Cook broke too many team rules, Whitney says
By Mark Alexander
malexander@clarionledger.com
Alcorn State center Lee Cook was dismissed from the team Wednesday for repeated violations of team rules.
The 6-foot-10 junior was the Braves' leading scorer (16.7 ppg.) and rebounder (6.9 rpg). He ranked fifth and fourth, respectively, in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in those categories.
"He's gone," Alcorn State coach Dave Whitney said Wednesday following practice. "He broke too many team rules. It's unfortunate that this situation had to happen.
"It's a big loss. It will hurt us height-wise, scoring-wise and rebounding-wise. But we'll survive. Rules are made to be kept. You can't allow someone to constantly break those rules and not do anything about it."
Cook didn't accompany the team on its trip to Alabama this past weekend. Alcorn beat Alabama A&M Saturday and lost to Alabama State Monday to move to 5-15 overall and 3-5 in the SWAC.
He was injured in practice earlier in the week, and he informed Whitney there was no reason for him to make the trip if he wasn't going to play.
Whitney informed the Omaha, Neb., product of his decision Wednesday in a meeting held along with athletic director Robert Raines.
JUCO transfer Rhau-Chavis Landfair, 6-10, will replace Cook in the starting lineup, Whitney said.
Cook has been in and out of Whitney's doghouse since arriving on The Reservation three years ago. He averaged 9.8 points. 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots per game last year as a sophomore playing behind Walter Harper and Marcus Fleming.
In the SWAC Tournament championship game against Alabama State, Cook had 16 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots, helping Alcorn to a narrow victory that sent the Braves to the NCAA Tournament.
