Halifax basketball star Tyler Richards may finish his illustrious university career on the sidelines.
The fifth-year St. Francis Xavier X-Men guard and two of his teammates were ordered yesterday by his school to sit out the three-day Atlantic University Sport Final 6 championship, which starts tomorrow at the Metro Centre.
Richards, Eamon Morrissy of Halifax and William Donkoh of Nepean, Ont., were charged Monday with assault causing bodily harm. St. F.X. athletic director Leo MacPherson announced yesterday morning that the three X-Men will not play until the school has investigated the matter.
Richards, who finished second in conference scoring, learned of the news on the same day he was named a first-team AUS all-star.
“It’s in their best interest not to be in the lineup pending further investigation,” said MacPherson. “It’s not a suspension of the players, it’s not any indication that they are guilty of these charges, it’s not about winning basketball games. This is about being fair and not jumping into knee-jerk reactions.”
The charges stem from a Feb. 21 incident in which a student was assaulted. A court date of May 4 has been set.
MacPherson said the investigation could take up to three weeks, but said he will revisit his decision to sit the trio next week if the X-Men advance to nationals.
