Ray Penn "done" as OSU player, Ford says
BY JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Monday, March 07, 2011
3/07/11 at 6:13 AM
Related Story: OSU freshman Markel Brown shines on court, in life
Original Print Headline: Ford: Penn won't return
Suspended sophomore point guard Ray Penn won't be rejoining Oklahoma State's basketball team in time to play in a Big 12 Tournament opener against Nebraska.
In fact, Penn won't be rejoining the team, period.
Travis Ford confirmed that Penn has played his last game with the Cowboys.
"He's not coming back," the OSU coach said. "He's done."
Penn is still attending classes at OSU because he wants to be eligible when he transfers elsewhere, according to Ford.
"I have heard different schools already," Ford said. "I don't know if any of them have contacted us and got a release or not."
A possible destination is Houston, Penn's hometown.
Penn started 15 games during a freshman season that was shortened by injury. He began this season as a backup to Fred Gulley, then moved into the starting lineup when shoulder surgery ended Gulley's season.
After 10 consecutive starts, Penn went back to the bench and was replaced at the point guard spot first by Keiton Page and then by Reger Dowell.
Penn, who averaged 5.9 points and 2.1 rebounds, went 0-of-5 from the field with no assists and one turnover in his last start, an overtime victory at the expense of Iowa State.
His playing time fluctuated in games that followed and, after playing just two minutes in a loss at Kansas, he was suspended for failure to follow team policy.
Penn came off the bench to score six points in a 65-54 regular season loss at Nebraska. It was OSU's first game after Ford announced Darrell Williams would not play or travel with the team until legal issues are resolved.
Williams originally was scheduled for a March 7 preliminary hearing on charges of rape by instrumentation and sexual battery, but the hearing has since been continued until March 31.
