Advisor to five-star Rutgers freshman hints at transfer after ‘shocking’ suspension

An advisor to Rutgers freshman Kiyomi McMiller said he was “very disappointed” by the decision. Suspend former five-star recruit for the Scarlet Knights’ high-profile matchup against fourth-ranked Southern Cal and casts doubt on the high-scoring guard’s long-term future with the program.

“It was shocking” Leonardo Ellerbewho was announced as part of McMiller’s “executive team” in a November press release, said in a phone call from Las Vegas on Sunday night. “In my opinion, this should have been handled in a completely different way, and I think this is embarrassing for the entire program.”

Ellerbe, a veteran sports business executive who was chief executive of boxing legend Floyd Mayweather’s promotional company, declined to say what led to the player’s suspension. Two people with knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media that the discipline came after a locker room altercation with a teammate after a recent game.

McMiller was not on the bench during the Scarlet Knights defeat 92-42 against Southern Calwhich was one of the most anticipated games on the schedule due to his potential one-on-one matchup with USC star JuJu Watkins. The Silver Spring, Maryland, native broke the news of her suspension in an Instagram post Sunday afternoon.

“I would like to apologize to my fans,” McMiller wrote. “I won’t be playing in today’s game against USC, which is No. 4 in the country. This decision was made by my head coach Coquese Washington. Thank you for your continued support.”

McMiller could not be reached for comment. Washington said in his postgame news conference that he would “keep the details internal,” but described the suspension as a teaching moment for the 18-year-old guard.

It’s unclear if McMiller will return when Rutgers plays 15-1 Minnesota on Wednesday. They fell to 8-6 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten with Sunday’s loss.

“For me, coaching is not just about what happens on the field on game day,” Washington said. “It’s about how we impact these young women in our program in everything from their character, their growth to becoming women and their decision making. “That will always be first and foremost in how we make decisions in your program.”

Washington declined to comment further when approached by NJ Advance Media with Ellerbe’s criticism after his press conference. Ellerbe said he had not spoken to McMiller about his future, but did not rule out that he might try to transfer.

“I don’t want to talk in long-term terms, but you don’t treat people like that,” Ellerbe said. “You can’t handle a situation like this. I’m trying to say the right thing here. Who knows what your future will be like right now? Who knows what their future will be like?

If McMiller were to leave the team, it would be a devastating blow for a program that is struggling to gain a foothold in the Big Ten in Washington’s third season. A year ago, leading scorer Kaylene Smikle left the program midseason and transferred to Maryland, where she is averaging 17.5 points per game for the undefeated Terrapins.

With McMiller out of the lineup Sunday night, the Scarlet Knights stood no chance against the powerful Trojans. They fell behind 10-1 in the opening minutes and, after three quarters, trailed 69-24 with 21 turnovers and just three assists.

“This matchup was between the two best players in the entire country,” Ellerbe said. “It was a phenomenal matchup, and the entire basketball community was glued to watch these two generational talents try to lead their teams to victory.

“It was definitely a matchup that Kiyomi was excited about. She let it be known that she has great respect for Juju and wanted to protect her. “This is very disappointing because this whole thing could have been handled differently.”

McMiller It went viral last month. for performing a crossover move made famous by Allen Iverson during a win over Wagner. Before arriving at Rutgers, she became the first high school player to sign with the prestigious Jordan Brand.

“You are your brand,” McMiller said last summer. “How you present yourself, that’s who you are and that’s what people think of you.”