Point Guard Wasteland

By Kartik Krishnaiyer
Canes Rising Staff

Assuming today's comments by Frank Haith hold true, Eddie Rios career at Miami appears to be over. Should Rios depart he would be the fourth consecutive true point guard signed by UM out of High School to not finish with the program.

First their was Khalif Watson who transferred to FAU, then Armando Surratt who went to the University of San Fransisco. Dennis Clemente was kicked off the team two years ago despite averaging close to 10 ppg and ended up at Kansas State. Anthony Harris who started three years at point guard for the Canes was recruited as a shooting guard and played point guard due to the departures of Watson and Surratt as well as the almost constant suspensions to Clemente in the 2006-07 season. (When Haith had planned to move Harris back to his natural position.)

Now it is Rios who has had one issue after another since joining the program last season. The Sun Sentinel reports that Rios did not contact Coach Haith after the January 5th game against FAU, and then did not come to practice for two days. He then produced a doctors note the day before the team left for Boston to face B.C., but Haith did not like the lack of communication and elected not to take Rios on the trip.

Now Rios has been suspended, leaving Miami with no true point guards on the roster. Lance Hurdle who starts at point guard was recruited as a shooting guard and ranks last in assists among starting ACC point guards. DeQuan Jones will be called on to handle the ball more Coach Haith told the Sun Sentinel's Shandel Richardson, and Jack McClinton will be forced to spell Hurdle at point guard.

Malcolm Grant a highly touted transfer from Villanova who had a good freshman season for the Philadelphia school will likely start at point guard next season.