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Guard Maurice Robinson is academically ineligible and forward Pat Carter is injured.
By JOHN C. COTEY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 10, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG -- In winning a state title last season, Lakewood had everything go its way. This season, the ride is getting bumpy. Coach Dan Wright has phased out starting point guard Maurice Robinson in anticipation of the junior being declared academically ineligible Monday after first semester grades are released today. Wright also said reserve forward Pat Carter will miss the rest of the season after injuring his knee in practice Monday.
Wright said the injury was not serious and Carter shut it down Tuesday as a precautionary measure. Carter is one of the top football recruits in the area.
Robinson's loss will be the harder one for the Spartans to overcome. The 5-foot-11 junior was a third-team all-county selection last season and was expected to come into his own as a team leader.
"He's a loss," Wright said, "but with the system we play here we don't depend on any one person to do a whole, whole lot. We'll miss his leadership and his ball-handling, but we have a nice group of players to make a run."
Robinson played his last game at the Hooters tournament. Wright said he decided to give Robinson's replacements the reins even though he could have played the past three games.
"It was time to move on with what we got," Wright said.
Lakewood, 12-2 and ranked No. 1 in Class 4A, will turn to George McElroy, Sean Morrison and Marcus Lee to run the offense, as well as others. Wright said he expects to use a point guard by committee until someone seizes the job.