K'Len Morris leaving Michigan basketball team

Posted: December 19, 2007

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- K'Len Morris is leaving Michigan's basketball program and plans to transfer from the school for personal reasons.

"This was an unexpected situation, but given the fact that K'Len's family has moved to Mississippi during the summer we fully understand the choice K'Len had to make for himself," coach John Beilein said Wednesday in a statement. "We will continue to offer any support that he will need now and in the future."

The former Grand Blanc High School standout played in all 11 games as a reserve wing this season, averaging 2.2 points and 1.1 rebounds, after missing 28 games last year as a freshman because of a left shoulder injury.

Morris had a career-high nine points and played a career-long 16 minutes in last week's win against Oakland.

"This was a difficult decision to make," Morris said in a statement released by the school. "Right now, I need to make sure I take care of my family and myself. I want to thank the U-M coaching staff, my teammates and the university as a whole for understanding my situation. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to attend this university and play for a wonderful program.

"At this time, basketball is just secondary."

Sophomore Kendric Price left Michigan's basketball program two months ago, but remained enrolled on scholarship.

Both Morris and Price were recruited by Tommy Amaker, who was fired after last season and replaced by Beilein.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=320257

This could actually be a good thing. If Laval Lucas-Perry decides to transfer to UM, I believe he can just take Morris' scholarship, right?
That leaves UM in a better scholarship situation, one they are likely to find players with that will impact the team more than Morris would.

Morris does seem like a good kid though, and I wish him well.

By the way, take the "if" out of LLP. I just read that he did, in fact, choose UM.

Yeah it has been done for a while now.

I forgot to mention that there was talk about K'Len leaving with all what was going on with the coaching search.

It sounds like K'Len has some family problems now that they live in Mississippi.............can you share anything Art? Best wishes to his family if it's something bad or not something they want.

Dont have anything to share about K"len.

UM seems to be getting the better end in this, let's call it, trade. It isn't really a trade per say, but the scholarship is being upgraded, imo. LLP was rated higher out of high school, gets a year to practice with the team and learn the intricacies of Beilein's offense. He'll be mucn further ahead than Morris was. Morris had better size, but that only matters if you're doing something with it. LLP is quicker and gets to the hole better. I can't make an educated assessment of who has the better outside shot, but I'm sure LLP will get lots of time to work on his. Plus, he just might have all four years of eligibility. It wouldn't make sense for him to use more than 3.5 years, since he can officially play halfway through next season.

Just adding that Jerrett Smith is officially off the team now. Kendrick Price, Reed Baker, Morris, Smith all gone now. Wow.
Beilein making some strong changes. Not that any of those guys were really go-to guys, though I thought Smith would make strides and do some good things in this offense.
So I wonder when we can use those scholarships. Was Beilein quick to pull the trigger on some of these guys because a team with only one senior wasn't going to have many scholarships available for a while?

Smith was rumored to have been missing classes and got 2 incompletes. So while daddy says his grades are good, that is all good and true, he just didnt say the whole truth.

Cant and wont defend Smith. UM gets those schollies for next year I believe. Maybe not Smith, depends on if they let him have a schollie for next semester or not, which would be shitty thing to do if they dont. Not like Beilein is going to pick 2 more guys up.