BY MIKE DeCOURCY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The University of Cincinnati rescinded its scholarship offer to basketball recruit Cory Powell, following his involvement in an off-campus incident in Independence, Kan., where he attends junior college.
Powell was one of several members of the Independence Community College team assigned to assist in parking cars for the Inge Festival, an annual arts event. Although he was not permitted to serve as a valet because he does not have a driver's license, he is alleged to have taken one of the vehicles for a joyride and subsequently was involved in a one-car accident.
The nature of the charges against Powell has not been established, but he spoke with police Tuesday and a court date was set for his arraignment April 28.
In stating the school's decision not to accept Powell, UC coach Bob Huggins said, "We have empathy for Cory and Cory's situation, but we need to go in a different direction."
Powell, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, was one of five players who signed letters of intent with UC and formed a recruiting class ranked in the top five nationally by most analysts. He could not be reached for comment.
He had a difficult year on the court for Independence, averaging 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds after missing the first two months of the season with a knee injury. But Powell was rated the No. 2 player at his position by Rick Ball, who operates the BallStars scouting service out of Pensacola, Fla.
Independence coach Mike Kruszynski, who also had Ruben Patterson in junior college, said he understood UC's decision to drop Powell and would have no hesitation about allowing the school to recruit another of his players.
Kruszynski said Powell previously created no trouble during his year at Independence.
Crosstown baseball fires up XU, UC
