Kerry Rupp drops three players -- no, make it four

Okay, anyone know the reason or reasons behind this?

The timing certainly isn't good for the players but they will certainly land elsewhere. Was it a grades issue, a behavioral issue, a desire to eliminate any roster connections to the departed Keith Richard, a combination or something else? Regardless, Coach Kerry Rupp received nothing but good press for his bloodied but unbowed march with a depleted roster through the recently concluded season. He continually spoke of team, character and effort and striving to do better. But now this? Ruston may be considered in the media backwaters to some degree but the press that covers LA TECH still won't allow this to disappear without a further explanation beyond a brief press release. Someone has some 'splainin' to do.

Tech releases three men's basketball players, including ex-West Monroe standout Lathan
Ethan Conley
The News Star
May 21, 2008

Louisiana Tech men's basketball coach Kerry Rupp has informed freshmen Dwayne Lathan, Orren Tims, and Brandon Mims that their scholarships would not be renewed for the 2008-09 season.

The three players committed to Tech when the program was under the direction of coach Keith Richard, who was dismissed after the 2006-07 season.

Lathan said there was no indication from Rupp before Friday that his scholarship was in jeopardy. He said Rupp gave no specific reasoning for the decision, other than a desire to move the program in a different direction.

"We all feel the same way," Lathan said. "We were kind of blindsided. We went through the whole season, with the tough year we had, and we sacrificed everything. It’s kinda hard to take."

Rupp, in a statement released several hours after this story was posted at thenewsstar.com, said: “There are many factors that affect a decision not to renew a scholarship. High expectations are placed on our student-athletes both on and off the court. This is always a tough decision for a coach, and we wish them the very best in the future.”

Hold on, there's more as another player was also dumped -- Drew Washington:

Louisiana Tech men's basketball releases four
Ethan Conley
The News Star
May 22, 2008

Dwayne Lathan walked into Louisiana Tech coach Kerry Rupp's office on Friday expecting to set up a summer workout schedule. He walked away without a scholarship.

After bringing each player in for an individual meeting, Rupp informed Lathan and fellow freshmen Orren Tims and Brandon Mims along with junior Drew Washington that their scholarships would not be renewed for the 2008-09 season.

Lathan, a West Monroe product, said there was no indication from Rupp before Friday that his scholarship was in jeopardy. He said Rupp gave no specific reasoning for the decision, other than a desire to move the program in a different direction...

..."When you're in a position where you're supposed to build character and instill values into these players, these guys were treated very unfairly," said Lathan's father, Dwayne Lathan Sr. "All (my son) has done is eat, drink and sleep basketball. Dwayne loves that school. He loved Tech so well. He was loyal to that program — as loyal as any player in the nation.

"He followed every rule, had no discipline problems. I'm just hoping no one else's son will have to go through what we're going through right now...

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