OU REMOVES BROWN FROM ROSTER

NORMAN -- Kelvin Sampson chose program over player Friday. . Brown's
absence leaves OU with eight players

The Oklahoma men's basketball coach has removed senior center Jabahri
Brown from the roster for all remaining Sooner games as a result of
Brown's second set of possession of marijuana and possession of drug
paraphernalia charges in less than a year.

"The thing that I've always said is that the most important thing
that we have going for us is our program," Sampson said. "At the core
value of your program, there has to be integrity in that area.

"This was not an easy decision. It tore at me. But it came down to
what was right. And for our basketball team, I think it sends a very
valuable message to them."

The message may appear mixed -- Brown will still take part in the
senior ceremony after the Oklahoma-Baylor game that begins at 5 p.m.
today at Lloyd Noble Center.

Brown also will remain on scholarship. A native of the U.S. Virgin
Islands, Brown is scheduled to graduate in May.

This was the senior's third season with the program. He had started 70
games, averaging 6.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
This year, Brown averaged 7.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per
game.

Sampson said he met with Brown's parents Friday before practice to
explain how and why he reached his decision. Sampson also has spoken
at length with Brown.

"My biggest message to him was learning from mistakes," Sampson said.
"This happened in May, and then it turned around and happened again.
The shame in all this would be if he didn't learn from it and go on
and lead a productive life."

According to Sampson, the shame associated with the charges and the
resulting removal from the team has been one of the tougher issues
Brown has had to deal with.

"He feels bad," Sampson said. "He knows that he has let down his
teammates and his coaches and his fans and the people of Oklahoma.
It's not easy for him."

It hasn't been easy for Sampson these last three days either. He said
he was forced to weigh a myriad of factors before he ultimately made
his decision.

The overriding factor was the message to the team. But, Sampson said,
the character Brown has shown him in the past three years tugged at
his sentiments.

"Jabahri is a really nice person," Sampson said. "He would have
mothers bringing him cookies at practice because of the way he treated
their sons at basketball camp. He's great with kids. He made sure
every kid had an autograph.

"I hope that somebody's son or daughter will learn from this. You have
to follow the rules. You can't sacrifice the team or the program.
Jabahri, I think, has good character. But I think our program does,
too."

Sampson didn't allow players to comment on Brown's situation Friday.
He met with the team before practice to let them know of his decision.

This is the second time in four seasons Sampson has been forced to
make a decision regarding a player who has had multiple drug
incidents. In 2001, after three failed drug tests, J.R. Raymond was
removed from the program.

Unlike Raymond, Brown appeared to have cleaned up his act after the
first drug charge.

After Brown's May 2003 arrest for possession, he underwent weekly drug
testing for two semesters.

Had he failed any of those tests, Brown would've been suspended for at
least one game, according to OU's banned substance use prevention and
screening policy. Brown was never suspended until he was charged with
possession again Wednesday.

"I'm disappointed in what he did, and I did what I thought was right,"
Sampson said. "But that doesn't mean I don't love him and I don't care
for him. He is going to graduate on Mother's Day, and I talked to his
mother, and his mother is going to come back for that. And I plan on
sitting right beside her when he gets his degree."