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'Absolutely no truth' Report: Michigan's Crawford tells coach he's leaving
Posted: Sunday February 13, 2000 11:45 PM
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan basketball coach Brian Ellerbe denies a broadcast report that Jamal Crawford, Michigan's leading scorer, has told him he plans to turn pro after this season. "Coach Ellerbe denies that Jamal Crawford has told him he wants to turn pro after his season. There is absolutely no truth to it whatsoever," Tom Wywrot, a university spokesman, said Sunday night. WKBD-TV reported Sunday night that Crawford, who is serving a six-game NCAA suspension, told Ellerbe he would turn pro after the season. Last week, the NCAA said that Crawford must repay a Seattle businessman about $15,000 before he completes his college eligibility. Barry Henthorn, president of Innovative Communications Technologies, a long-distance telephone company, has said he doesn't know he doesn't know how the NCAA expects Crawford to come up with the money. He said he doesn't want to be repaid and said if he is he is repaid he will give the money to charity. Crawford, a 6-6 freshman guard, is leading Michigan in scoring with 16.6 points per game. The NCAA suspended Crawford for six games for violating its rules concerning amateurism, based on his relationship with Henthorn. Crawford lived with Henthorn, with permission of his mother, for three years while he attended Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, the NCAA said. Crawford is practicing with the team and attending classes, but cannot play until Feb. 24, when the Wolverines play Purdue. Asked about having to repay Henthorn, Crawford said last week: "I don't know how I'm going to do it." Earlier this season, Ellerbe reduced media access to his team following reports that Crawford was considering transferring at the end of the season. After Crawford was benched for the opening 14:35 of a victory over Illinois, a source told the Detroit Free Press that Crawford was strongly considering transferring to Washington, in his hometown of Seattle. The Free Press also reported that earlier this season, after a dispute in practice, assistant coach Lorenzo Neely was involved in a fight with Crawford. No punches were thrown, but the 30-year-old Neely was suspended for two weeks, then demoted to administrative assistant, the newspaper said. There have been reports that Crawford has walked out of practice more than once this season. When asked last month if he would stick around for his sophomore season, Crawford hedged. "I can't predict the future. I'm not saying I'm going anywhere. I'm definitely here for the season. I signed for one year, so I'm going to definitely stick with it," he said.
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