</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
Williams Dismissed From Syracuse
JOHN KEKIS
AP Sports Writer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - DeShaun Williams, the troubled Syracuse basketball star, was dismissed Wednesday by the university because of academic problems.
Williams will be allowed to complete his current summer session courses but will not be able to enroll for the fall semester, university spokesman Kevin Morrow said.
Williams was not immediately available for comment. Head coach Jim Boeheim was out of town Wednesday and also unavailable for comment.
It marked the culmination of a year that began with much promise - Williams was named tournament most valuable player of the Preseason NIT last November.
His university dismissal came just three weeks after he was cleared of assault charges by a city court jury.
Williams, 21, of Paterson, N.J., was accused of hitting Nicole Wilcox during a fight at a bar just off campus in early May, just hours after final exams. A blow caused a cut above Wilcox's right eye that required four stitches to close.
After the trial, Williams said he just wanted "to get back to school and start playing."
He also served a three-game suspension last fall for violating the university's code of conduct. The suspension stemmed from a charge of driving with ability impaired.
Williams, who would have been a senior next year, was a two-year starter at guard who last season averaged 16.4 points and 4.2 assists per game. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Before his dismissal, Williams was academically ineligible to play for the Orangemen and had to complete several courses to be able to rejoin the team. Despite the move by the university, a window of opportunity remained.
School officials said Williams can take courses at another institution this fall and may petition Syracuse for re-admission for the spring 2003 semester if he provides evidence of substantial academic achievement with at least a B average in his fall course work.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">It's a shame that such a talented athlete can't keep his mind focused on achieving success. Over the past year:
</font><ul type="square">[*]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">3-game suspension after receiving DWI </font></li>[*]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Charged with assault on a woman after final exams, later cleared </font></li>[*]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Academically ineligible despite taking summer session </font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
