Lakey Is Granted Release From USC

The USC men’s basketball team lost its third player in slightly more than three months when sophomore Greg Lakey asked for and was granted a release from his scholarship.

Like those who left before him--guards Kevin Augustine and Quincy Wilder--Lakey grew frustrated with Coach Henry Bibby’s unpredictable substitution pattern.

“It was real hard for me before every game,” Lakey said. “I should know as a bench player that I’m going to get my chance every game.”

The 6-foot-8, 200-pound forward started 19 games as a freshman, but his numbers dropped as a backup this season. He played in 26 games, averaging 4.8 points and three rebounds. Lakey hopes to transfer to another California school, perhaps Loyola Marymount.

“I’m disappointed because Greg Lakey was going to be a big part of our future here at USC,” Bibby said in a statement. “[But] we want our players to be happy and this is what he feels he needed to do.”