The Notre Dame basketball team’s chances of making an impact in its first ACC season have taken a severe hit with the news that star guard Jerian Grant will miss the rest of the season for academic reasons.Grant, a preseason All-ACC selection who is averaging 19.2 points and 6.2 assists, announced his own suspension with a statement posted on the Irish’s official web site.
“It is with regret and sorrow that I inform you that I am no longer enrolled at the University of Notre Dame due to an academic matter that I did not handle properly,” Grant said in the statement. “As a result, I am no longer part of the basketball program and will not be on the court competing with my teammates for the remainder of the 2013-14 season. I take full responsibility for my lack of good judgment and the poor decision that I made.”
The 6-foot-5 junior indicated in his statement that he intends return to Notre Dame next year and earn his degree. Because he already redshirted as a freshman, he will only have one season of eligibility remaining.
"It is my full intention to return to Notre Dame as soon as possible following the 2014 spring semester. I intend to do whatever it takes to earn my degree and finish out my college basketball career here. I understand that there is a process that I must go through in order to come back to school and I will be patient with that process."
Grant is the second high-profile player to be lost for the season by a top ACC team because of an off-the-court issue.
On Friday, North Carolina announced it would not seek reinstatement for its top returning scorer from last year, P.J. Hairston, because of NCAA eligibility issues.
