I'm not offering any commentary on this one besides this...drunk college kids do some funny and idiotic things sometimes. Just getting it out there. It's only fair:

Freshman Jayhawk basketball player gets court date after BB gun incident
By Jesse Fray (Contact)
Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Notice to Appear for Markieff Morris (PDF)

An incoming Kansas University basketball player is accused of shooting an Airsoft rifle BB gun out of his university dorm room, possibly hitting a woman in the courtyard below, the KU Public Safety office said.

Markieff Morris, 18, was issued a notice to appear in court after the incident, which the KU Public Safety office said occurred about 11:15p.m. Saturday at Jayhawk Towers. The suspect was intoxicated, according to a police report.

A 47-year-old woman from Mequon, Wis., was shot in the arm with a plastic BB in the courtyard of the building, police said. She received minor injuries.

Morris was found in a nearby building, where he admitted to shooting the BB from the window of his residence at Jayhawk Towers, police said.

Officers seized a 3-foot-long black Airsoft rifle, valued at $100, and a medium-sized plastic bag of BBs, a police report states.

The Kansas University Student Housing Department is conducting its own investigation into the incident, said Jim Marchiony, KU associate athletics director.

“We’re not going to have any comment until that process is complete,” he said. “The fact-finding is ongoing.”

Police charged Morris with battery, court records indicate, which is defined by city code as “intentionally or recklessly causing bodily harm to another person; or intentionally causing physical contact with another person when done in a rude, insulting or angry manner.”

He is scheduled to appear at 1 p.m. Sept. 10 in Lawrence Municipal Court. The case was not sent to the Douglas County district attorney for consideration of charges, a spokeswoman said.

Markieff Morris and his twin brother, Marcus Morris, known as “The Twins,” came to KU from Philadelphia in late June. The NCAA hasn’t determined if they are academically eligible to play basketball this season.

*image of Markieff Morris courtesy of Scout.com

According to Jeff Goodman, USC guard Angelo Johnson is transferring to Southern Mississippi. That is a nice pickup for Larry Eustachy. Johnson will have to sit out this year and will be eligible to play beginning the 2009 season.

On a side note related to USM recruiting, former UAB commit and Wingfield High School star Maurice Bolden has enrolled at Southern Miss and will join Johnson as eligible in 2009. Bolden, the 6'9 220lbs SF, was named to the Clarion-Ledger Dandy Dozen in high school and attended Marion Military Institute last season. He will have to sit out for a year since he was not a full qualifier out of high school.

So here's the thing...I'm doing this in order to nip the all out chaos in the bud that will ensure if and when rumors begin to fly.

As of Monday, August 25th, 2008, the fall semester of the 2008-2009 school year will begin for all students, including student athletes.

Angel Garcia and Matt Simpkins, two members of the University of Memphis' 2008 recruiting class, are still awaiting word from the newly established NCAA Eligibility Center on whether or not they are CLEARED to play. Now, you may ask yourself, why did I capitalize that word?

Speaking in NCAA jargon, there is a distinct difference between a student-athlete being ELIGIBLE and CLEARED. For example, if Matt Simpkins is eligible to enroll, that means that he has passed all necessary coursework and received scores for any necessary tests (exit exams, standardized tests, etc). So now you ask yourself, "Well, if he's passed everything then shouldn't he automatically be cleared?" The answer to that question, looking through the eyes of the NCAA, is no. In order to be cleared, Simpkins' transcripts, test scores and all paperwork must be submitted and reviewed by the Eligibility Center. The object of reviewing this documentation is to verify their authenticity. They go as far as calling former teachers, guidance counselors, classmates, etc.

So, now that we have our jargon defined, here's why I feel the need to explain. If and when the rumors begin to swirl that Matt Simpkins and Angel Garcia are on campus at the University of Memphis starting this weekend, please understand that you can enroll at a university and begin classes if you are eligible, whether or not you have been CLEARED.

The NCAA has a process in which a school (in this case, the U of M) can submit an application for a 'waiver' (of sorts) that allows for a player to enroll and begin classes, if eligible, while waiting on clearance to play. This allows for student-athletes to not miss classes due to delays of the NCAA; somewhat 'protecting' the athletes' grades.

So, sit back, relax and enjoy the wait. It could be next week...it could be September.

*EDIT*

So, less than 24 hours after I posted this entry the rumors have started to fly. First, on a prominent Indiana basketball message board, a poster says:

For all those who were spreading rumors about Angel not going to Memphis well, I hate to dissapoint you, but he's on his way to Memphis today and will enroll tomorrow. He came through on his SAT and proved he is capable of getting it done in the classroom despite constant barage of insults regarding his academic standing that never had any merit whatsoever.

Apparently Garcia got into Memphis. Angel Garcia won't be having to go the Junior College route as we were informed that he miraculously made the grade at the last minute. Congratulations and good luck to Angel!

Rivals.com has released its 'post-summer' and evaluation period rankings for the class of 2009. John Wall remains at #1 overall, while UAB commitment Demarcus Cousins moves up 5 slots to #2 overall.

Memphis targets are ranked as follows:

• John Wall - #1
• Xavier Henry - #3
• Derrick Favors - #4
• Kenny Boynton - #7
• Avery Bradley - #8
• Renardo Sidney - #10
• Abdul Gaddy- #13
• Mouphtaou Yarou - #14
• Thomas Robinson - #18
• Rashanti Harris - #26
• Tyler Honeycutt - #29
• Christian Watford - #34
• Karron Johnson - #45
• Nolan Dennis (verbal) - #47

Yarou and Robinson are two of the three newcomers to the 5-star status. Robinson jumped from #82 to #18 overall while Yarou went from completely unknown to #14 nationally. Pretty big jump, huh?

Tyler Honeycutt also made a large jump, going from #121 to #29. Ole Miss verbal, and former Memphis target, Reggie Buckner went from #91 to #30.

Sources close to the UAB program have said that the Blazers will add 6-8 SF Cameron Moore as a walk-on. Moore also turned down other Division 1 offers (at least one Conference USA program's offer) to join the Blazers. Cameron Moore committed to South Alabama late in the spring signing period but chose the Blazers as his primary option.

Moore graduated from Roosevelt High in San Antonio, Texas and had received an offer from Tulsa (also, recruited by a number of other D1 schools including Tulane and Army). Moore averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks per game as a senior (to go along with 58% shooting from the field).

According to USA's coach, Ronnie Arrow:

I'm a little late getting to this one due to some travel, so many of you already know that Memphis picked up a verbal commitment from class of 2009 big-man Will Coleman. Coleman is a 6'9" 260lb beast in the mold of Joey Dorsey.