YOUNGSTOWN STATE BASKETBALL Freshman star Moore quits Penguins

The university won't release him from his scholarship.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team, coming off one of its worst seasons, suffered another key setback this week.
Freshman standout Jimmy Moore, a 6-foot-5 guard from Worcester, Mass., has decided to leave the university.
Moore, who started 19 of 28 games this season and averaged 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds, said that he was homesick and missed his family.
The Penguins finished 5-23 and were in last place in the Horizon League with a 2-12 record.
Because YSU basketball coach John Robic refused to release Moore from his scholarship, Moore appealed to the university. On Tuesday, a three-member panel selected by the university upheld Robic's decision.
A hearing was held last Friday in front of: Kathy Lynn Feld, a faculty athletic representative; Cindy Anderson, vice-president of student affairs; and Elaine Ruse, director of financial aid.
Moore and his father, Jim Moore, also attended.
Confirmation: YSU athletic director Ron Strollo confirmed that the panel refused the appeal.
"The appeals panel listened to what Jimmy Moore had to say and also to what the coaches had to say and they responded accordingly," Strollo said. "They upheld the coaches decision.
"Nobody gains from this decision," Strollo said. "This is not a victory for the university."
No official reason was given by the university as to why the appeals panel rejected Moore's request. Strollo said that it is his policy not to discuss anything that is detrimental to a student-athlete.
Robic was en route to the Final Four and coaches convention in Atlanta and unavailable for comment.
Moore said he will leave the university regardless of whether or not his release was granted.
"I have nothing against this university. They have treated me well this past year, but I miss my family and I want to get back closer to them," Moore said. "If YSU was an hour from Worcester, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Moore said Wednesday that he was told he would receive a registered letter notifying him of the reason he would not be released from his scholarship.
"They were to send it to my home in Worcester, but that was supposed to be Tuesday and as of [Wednesday] we still haven't gotten the letter," Moore said.
Negative attitude: Moore said the coaches told him he was not being released from his scholarship because of a negative attitude.
"If that was the case, then why did [Robic] start me in 19 games last season?" Moore said. "It's obvious they are just trying to make things difficult for me, but regardless, I still won't be back next season.
"I won't be able to get athletic aid next year, but there is still other financial aid available and then after that I'll still have three more years of athletic scholarship available," Moore said.
Moore's departure leaves the Penguins with just six scholarship players on the roster.
Robic has two incoming freshmen, signed during the early signing period: Jonathan Mends of Miami, Fla., and Derrick Harris of Cambridge, Mass. Both are guards.
Others: The Penguins have two scholarships remaining for next season. They also have two non-scholarship players on the roster: junior Bill Mallernee and sophomore Jelani Dukes, a transfer from North Carolina A & amp;T, who sat out this season. Kenneth Lampley, a freshman scholarship player, sat out this season, lacking NCAA academic requirements.
Returning next year will be senior Marlon Williamson, junior TeJay Anderson, junior Khari McQueen and sophomores Brian Radakovich and Doug Underwood.
The Penguins can offer a scholarship to Mallernee, which is allowed by the NCAA and it will not count toward their scholarship count for this year.
"Regardless we will still have 12 scholarship athletes available on the roster next season," Strollo said. "That's more than we played with most of all last season."
The Penguins will be able to recover Moore's scholarship in the 2003-2004 recruiting season.
mollica@vindy.com