Missouri dismisses Zach Price from basketball team
Junior forward Zach Price’s Missouri basketball career is over. Price, 20, was dismissed from the Missouri basketball team Thursday by coach Frank Haith, a day after it was revealed that a former teammate had filed for an order of protection against Price.
Price, a 6-foot-10 transfer from Louisville who sat out last season, was indefinitely suspended from the team April 3, the same day he was twice arrested on suspicion of domestic assault and assault.
Former Missouri guard Earnest Ross filed for an order of protection against Price on April 2, stating that Price had been stalking him and “caused or attempted to cause me physical harm” by ramming Ross’ car at Rock Bridge Elementary School in Columbia. Ross’ girlfriend also was in the car during the alleged incident.
“Last week’s situation was unacceptable and after a review, I have decided that Zach will no longer be a part of our program,” Haith said in news release. “The off-the-court incidents involving our program over the past few months will not be tolerated. Our program represents the entire university and needs to be an asset. That’s my responsibility as our head coach at Mizzou, and we’ll get it fixed.”
Ross, who indicated that he and Price “were good friends” when asked to define the relationship in the petition for an order of protection, asked police to prevent Price from communicating with him in any way, coming within 100 feet of him or entering his dwelling.
Ross indicated that he and Price had never lived together. The petition was filed at 4 p.m. April 2 and notes that the alleged events had taken place at 2 p.m. the same day.
According to a Columbia Police news release, a 23-year-old identified only as a male roommate of Price’s and a 23-year-old female alleged that on the afternoon of April 2, Price twice intentionally rammed a car in which they were riding near Bethel Church Road and Route K. That intersection is about a mile south of the elementary school.
In the early morning hours of April 3, Price was arrested on suspicion of third-degree domestic assault and third-degree assault for allegedly punching the same male roommate and shoving to the ground the same woman, who tried to intervene, near Stadium Boulevard. Neither alleged victim was identified in the Columbia Police Department’s probable cause statement.
Price was released the morning of April 3 on $1,500 bond. After police completed their investigation into the alleged April 2 car-ramming incident, Price was arrested and booked again into the Boone County Jail later on April 3 on suspicion of second-degree domestic assault and second-degree assault. He was released the second time shortly after 7:30 p.m. on $9,000 bond.
Boone County prosecutors are still determining whether to file charges in both cases.
Ross averaged 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds last season. He led the Tigers with 169 defensive rebounds and 46 steals.
Price averaged 1.2 points and 1.4 rebounds at national champion Louisville in 2012-13. He started seven games for the Cardinals that season but never suited up in a game for Missouri.
This story was originally published April 10, 2014 at 1:11 PM with the headline "Missouri dismisses Zach Price from basketball team."