STARKVILLE — The tradition of Rick Ray and the Mississippi State men’s basketball program losing players before the season tips off continues.
School officials confirmed to The Dispatch on Thursday afternoon senior forward Wendell Lewis was dismissed from the program due to conduct detrimental to the team. CBSSports.com senior college basketball columnist Gary Parrish first reported the news.
Lewis appeared in 98 games (13 starts) at MSU and averaged 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds and per game. Lewis was the only other experienced player at center behind All-Southeastern Conference freshman team selection Gavin Ware on the roster.
Parrish’s report said a source confirmed Lewis’ dismissal is related to a failed drug test.
The dismissal leaves MSU with nine scholarship players for the 2013-14 season. Last season, Ray’s first as head coach after taking over for Rick Stansbury, the Bulldogs were down to seven active players (five on scholarship) at one point.
Lewis wasn’t able to participate in preseason practices, which began Monday, due to recovery from a second surgery on his right patella that kept him out of most of the 2012-13 season. The Selma, Ala., native was averaging 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds at the time of his injury.
“I am saddened by the actions we had to take because we brought Wendell back to give him an opportunity to complete his senior year on the court healthy and earn his degree,” Ray said in a statement.
The SEC approved the medical hardship request for Lewis after he suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for the final 24 games of the 2012-13 season.
“We are pleased the SEC has granted Wendell another year of eligibility,” Ray said in June. “I really believe Wendell needed another year in our program to improve on the court because he was just beginning to make strides right before his injury after coming off two-straight games where he scored career highs. This move is beneficial for Wendell and our basketball program.”
Lewis is the eighth player to leave or to be removed from MSU’s program with eligibility remaining since Ray took over for Stansbury on April 1, 2012. Lewis is the second player to leave or to be dismissed from the 2013-14 roster. Senior guard Jalen Steele left the program Sept. 17 with the intention to transfer after he graduates following the spring semester.
Junior forward Roquez Johnson is the last remaining scholarship player on the roster who was with the program when Stansbury, the school’s all-time wins leader, announced his retirement. Stansbury’s staff signed Ware, sophomore guard Craig Sword, and sophomore guard Fred Thomas during the early period.
The dismissal of Lewis leaves MSU with little front-court depth. The NCAA ruled in August that 6-foot-11 center Fallou Ndoye, of Senegal, is a partial qualifier after completing the initial-eligibility waiver. Ndoye, who played at nationally recognized Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev., isn’t eligible to compete until the 2014-15 campaign, but he is on scholarship and is participating in practices and workouts this year as a redshirt.
Follow Matt Stevens on Twitter @matthewcstevens.
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