MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis sophomore forward Sean Banks is ineligible for the rest of the season because of poor grades, the school announced Sunday.
Tigers head coach John Calipari said he was disappointed for Banks, who had started 10 games this season and was averaging 14.5 points and 5.8 rebounds a game.
"I'm sorry that I let my teammates, coaches, coach Calipari, the university and the city of Memphis down," Banks said Sunday. "The situation I am in is my own fault."
Banks said he hopes to take classes at another school to help regain his eligibility.
Memphis lost 61-59 at the buzzer to Texas Christian on Saturday, dropping the Tigers to 9-8 overall and 2-1 in Conference USA.
"We just have to move on," forward Anthony Rice said of Banks. "I think we've already adjusted."
Several of Banks' teammates said they knew he would be ineligible for the second semester.
"This is where he'll find out how big of a man he is," Memphis senior forward Arthur Barclay said. "I just hope he'll be all right."
Banks, one of the top freshmen in the nation last season, damaged his NBA potential after skipping tryouts for USA Basketball's Under-21 team last summer.
Then, the coaching staff criticized him for poor practice habits in the preseason, and he was suspended for a game. Banks got into a scuffle with Barclay after the Tigers' loss Jan. 6 at Texas and had a black eye.
"I don't know what he's going to decide to do, but I hope the best for him," Barclay said. "I told him if he ever needs anything, he can always call me because I love him. But I just feel bad for him."
It's been part of a tumultuous season for Memphis, which was picked 24th in the preseason poll after a 22-8 season last year. Last week, Jeremy Hunt was charged with assaulting former girlfriend Tamika Rogers, but wasn't suspended until after a court hearing three days later.
