Bill Self briefly addresses Arterio Morris situation. Will KU add another player?
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self had little to say when asked questions Monday about former KU player Arterio Morris, who was dismissed from the Jayhawk team Friday following the sophomore guard’s arrest on a charge of one count of rape and subsequent release on $75,000 bond.
“I’ve said all I’m going to say,” Self said, asked by a media member at a pre-Late Night in the Phog news conference to reveal when Self learned of a rape allegation against Morris and when he was first suspended from the team.
The Star reported on Sept. 15 that Morris had been suspended from the Jayhawks following a rape accusation at McCarthy Hall that was reported to the University of Kansas Police Department in late-August.
“You guys can ask and your questions are fair. I’ve been instructed the correct way to handle this — and even though it may not please those that are asking the questions, but it’s still the best way. Everything that’s been said has been said and what was said was not much, but until this is completed there’s not much you can say.”
Morris, a native of Dallas, announced his plans to transfer from the University of Texas to Kansas on April 28, a few weeks after the conclusion of his freshman season. Morris arrived for summer school at his new school in early June while facing misdemeanor assault charges back home in Denton County, Texas.
Asked what it was about conversations with officials at UT and with Morris’ family members that made Self confident to add Morris to KU’s squad, despite the player’s legal issues in Texas, Self said: “I respect the question, but I’ve already said I’m not talking about that. I’ve already made a comment and that comment will stand, definitely because there’s an ongoing deal (investigation) going on and I’m certainly not going to get into anything else other than what’s already been stated.”
Self added that “it was obviously well vetted,” when asked if he could shed any light on the process of Morris joining the KU team.
Self issued this comment on Friday concerning Morris’ arrest and dismissal from the program: “When we learned of allegations regarding Arterio Morris, he was suspended from the Kansas men’s basketball program. We are now aware he has been arrested and charged, and he was dismissed from the program. As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are not able to comment further at this time.”
After Morris announced plans to transfer to KU last spring, Self said: “We are aware of the charge that Arterio is facing in the State of Texas. In addition to working with our athletic department and campus administrators, we have also spoken at length with Arterio, his family, his former institution’s University Student Affairs office and his former institution’s Department of Athletics Compliance and Administration. Based on these discussions, we are comfortable welcoming Arterio to the University of Kansas and he is well aware of the high standards and expectations that come with being a member of the Kansas Men’s Basketball program. We fully expect him to meet those daily.”
Will KU add a player to replace Morris?
KU is down to 10 available scholarship players following the dismissal of Morris. Self indicated the Jayhawks just might add a player to join the program in December once final exams are over.
“What we could do is be open to bring somebody in at Christmas,” Self said. You could do that and then you could add some depth on the perimeter and eliminate some of that (depth problem) if that is an option. Right now we are certainly looking at that.”
Asked if any prospects would be available to join the program in December, Self said: “Yes. We wouldn’t sign somebody just to sign somebody. There could be guys available, especially international guys.”
He said the plan still is to redshirt junior-forward Zach Clemence, giving KU nine available scholarship players for game action.
“I don’t think Jamari (McDowell, freshman guard) will be a guy we could look into doing that now,” Self said. “I think Zach still is (going to redshirt). The arrangement we had with Zach (when he decided to return to KU instead of his transferring to Cal Santa Barbara) and what he wanted I think is very fair of what he requested (to redshirt). Unless something changes on the interior, I do see Zach still redshirting at this juncture.”
Self added: “I’m not going to play nine a lot of minutes anyway. You guys know that. The practice stuff is fine from a depth standpoint because we’ve got enough walk-ons (seven) and we’ve got some good walk-ons. That doesn’t really bother me. What would bother me would be injuries. I don’t know how you prepare for that now.”
Late Night in the Phog is set for 6:30 p.m., Friday, at Allen Fieldhouse.
