AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas senior guard Darren Kelly, the
team's leading-returning scorer, will not play during the fall
semester because of academic problems.
Kelly averaged 10.0 points last season, third on the team behind
first-round draft choice Chris Mihm and Gabe Muoneke. He was
also the team's top 3-point shooter and the second-best in the
Big 12 Conference, making 42-of-93 (45 percent) attempts from
behind the arc.
"It is going to be difficult not being able to play this fall,
but I have some academic issues that I need to take care of to
return to the team," said the Forrestville, Maryland native. "I
am going to attempt to take care of that this fall and hope to
rejoin the team in December."
Texas is part of the preseason NIT and will play Navy in the
opener on Nov. 13.
"I'm sad for Darren because he had made such great strides in
his game during the latter part of last year and over the
summer, and he had really taken a strong leadership role on this
team," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "With the addition of so
many new guys this year, there's no question that his loss in
the fall will hurt us. Hopefully he'll be able to return to the
team and give us a big lift heading into Big 12 Conference
play."
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