LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky center Randolph Morris'
season-long suspension for his attempt to enter the NBA draft was
reduced to 14 games Thursday by the NCAA.
The NCAA cited new information for softening its punishment
after Morris tried to go into the draft. Additional information
provided by the school showed that Morris clearly intended to
retain his collegiate eligibility while declaring for the draft,
the NCAA said in a statement.
The new information "provides additional understanding of
Morris' original intent to enter the NBA draft as well as his
mind-set during that process," the NCAA said.
Morris, a 6-foot-10 sophomore, also must repay expenses related
to the tryouts -- which amounted to more than $7,000 from nine NBA
teams, the NCAA said.
"In exploring my NBA options, I made poor choices," Morris
said. "Those choices included accepting bad advice while putting
distance between me and my coaches and teammates at UK. I take full
responsibility for those actions.
"It wasn't obvious to me as I was going through this process,
but looking back, I now see how my actions were disrespectful to
coach (Tubby) Smith and the University of Kentucky. Playing
basketball at the University of Kentucky is a privilege that few
athletes get to enjoy. I intend to make the most of this
opportunity to be a part of the greatest basketball program in
America."
Kentucky provided the NCAA the original copy of a fax sent by
Morris to Smith, notifying the coach of his plans to enter the
draft. In the one-paragraph fax -- released by the university on
Thursday -- Morris told Smith that "my intent is not to obtain an
agent so as to maintain my collegiate eligibility."
Smith said he had misplaced the fax and only found it last week.
Morris will miss all of Kentucky's nonconference schedule,
including a showdown with No. 4 Louisville on Saturday, but will be
available for the Southeastern Conference opener against Vanderbilt
on Jan. 10.
He can continue to practice with the Wildcats in the interim and
will have two years of eligibility remaining after this season.
"Based on all the information we had and all the extenuating
circumstances, both Randolph and we have been very patient waiting
for this opportunity," Smith said. "I'm very happy for Randolph,
his family and our basketball program."
The Wildcats (6-3) have struggled with their inside game without
Morris. Smith has rotated a trio of 7-footers -- Shagari Alleyne,
Lukasz Obrzut and Jared Carter -- and used a smaller starting lineup
without a true center in several games. That strategy worked
against the lesser teams but not so well in losses to Iowa, North
Carolina and Indiana -- the last a 26-point blowout.
Morris started 33 of 34 games last season, averaging 8.8 points
and 4.2 rebounds per game as Kentucky finished 28-6.