By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Monday, May 16, 2011
TAMPA — Point guard Anthony Crater, whose two seasons at USF were marked by off-court problems and injuries, was dismissed from the Bulls on Monday for an unspecified violation of team rules.
Instead of an experienced if inconsistent senior in Crater running the team next season, the Bulls will rely on a player with little or no Big East experience, likely junior college transfer Blake Nash.
"I am disappointed for Anthony," coach Stan Heath said in a statement. "He is a good young man who made a number of positive contributions to our program, but he made some mistakes and was unable to meet our team's standard."
Crater led the Bulls in minutes last season and ranked fourth in the Big East with 5.1 assists in conference games.
In 2009, a charge of marijuana possession was dropped. That year he was questioned about a theft from a former teammate but not charged.
Previous problems have been reportedly linked to positive drug tests. Crater's first games as a Bull in January 2010 came after a six-game suspension, which matches the suspension for 20 percent of a season that is prompted by a second violation of USF's substance abuse policy.
Last month, USF signed Nash, a junior college combo guard, and high school guard Anthony Collins of Houston; they will compete with rising sophomore LaVonte Dority, a backup last season.