UNC WITHDRAWS CURRY'S SCHOLARSHIP

JamesOn Curry won't be a member of North Carolina's basketball team. Tar
Heel coach Roy Williams announced late Wednesday night that UNC has
withdrawn the former Eastern Alamance High standout's athletic scholarship.

Curry, a senior and the state's all-time leading scorer with 3,306 points,
pleaded guilty Monday to felony drug charges and was sentenced to three
years probation.

"This has been a very difficult time for JamesOn and his family, and also
for our basketball program," Williams said in a statement e-mailed to news
media outlets shortly before 11 p.m. "He is a nice young man, but one who
made some very serious mistakes. We felt we needed to let the legal process
take place over the last few months, and now it has."

Curry was among 50 Alamance County high school students arrested Feb. 4 in a
widespread sting operation. About two-thirds of those arrested have joined
Curry in accepting plea bargains.

Curry was dismissed from Eastern's basketball team following his arrest. He
and other students who were arrested have been attending alternative
schools.

The arrests in Alamance County were part of a six-month undercover
operation. Curry was charged with selling 12.2 grams and 7.5 grams of
marijuana to an undercover officer from the Alamance County Sheriff's
Department on two separate occasions last fall.

In addition to a 36-month probationary period, Curry was ordered by Alamance
County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Titus to pay monetary fines and perform
200 hours of community service.

Curry, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard, (FROM 1C)

was originally recruited by former UNC head coach Matt Doherty and verbally
committed to the Tar Heels as a high school junior. Williams, who replaced
Doherty last April 14, honored the commitment and signed Curry to a
scholarship last summer.

Williams and other UNC officials declined extensive comment while Curry's
legal case awaited resolution.

"(But) during this time we have been in close and constant contact with our
admissions office and the university administration," Williams said. "All
parties have agreed that it is best for us to withdraw our scholarship and
release JamesOn at this time.

"We hope JamesOn will be successful with continuing his education and his
basketball."

Williams said he informed Curry and his family of the decision Wednesday
evening.

Curry's dismissal leaves UNC with 13 scholarship players - the NCAA limit -
for next season. The Tar Heels' 2004-05 recruiting class now consists of
forward Marvin Williams (Bremerton, Wash.), swing man J.R. Smith
(Clarksburg, N.J.) and guard Quentin Thomas ( Oakland, Calif.).