LIU Blackbirds: Four Players Arrested For Costly Fouls

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

LIU-BROOKLYN BLACKBIRDS:  The Arrest Of Three Returning Seniors, Plus A Fourth Blackbird Player, Puts A Dark Cloud Over Program.  The University Acted Swiftly and Decisively.  Two Female Students Suffer Bruises.


With just seven weeks to go before tipping-off the 2012-2013 season with the Barclays Center Classic, four Blackbirds student/basketball players were recently arrested and charged with third degree assault.  Reports say on the night of Friday, September 14th, at or about 12:30am, an on-campus brawl involving Julian Boyd, Jamal Olasewere, C.J. Garner, and Troy Joseph took place.  Long Island University announced Boyd, Olasewere, and Garner, all returning seniors, in addition to Joseph, have been suspended indefinitely pending appeal.  It has also been reported two victims in last Friday's altercation were female students.  Another report states two male students were also involved, and in company of the female students.

What this does to the future of the program former head coach Jim Ferry left behind is still indeterminable.  The appeal process needs to take its course.  The players version is still yet to be known.  However, the police report revealed the female students suffered bruises.

Since 2002, former coach Jim Ferry worked very hard to help bring the men's basketball program back to relevancy.  Before leaving at the conclusion of last season to become head coach at Duquesne, he led the Blackbirds to back-to-back NEC titles.  Under Ferry, last season Julian Boyd won NEC Player of the Year.  Along with Jamal Olasewere and C.J. Garner, the three led all LIU-Brooklyn players in scoring last season.

All the momentum built entering their senior seasons is now in doubt.  The immediate future of LIU men's basketball is compromised in a most serious manner.  Newly promoted Head Coach Jack Perri's first season begins with a major problem.




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Mike.BTB