Wright State’s Athletics Department released a statement Thursday afternoon announcing that senior forward Tavares Sledge has been released from WSU’s men’s basketball squad.
“Today, Tavares Sledge was released from the Wright State men’s basketball team for violation of team rules. We will not have any further comment,” the statement read.
Sledge was suspended for 14 games last year after a September, 2013 altercation with his girlfriend. The altercation led to Sledge being jailed for 19 days by Fairborn Municipal Court Judge Beth Root.
Sledge drew support after the arrest from members of the university community including Athletics Director Bob Grant and WSU President David Hopkins.
Grant and Hopkins were among a group of community leaders who wrote a letter to Root on Sledge’s behalf.
“We believe a 19-day jail sentence will certainly do more harm than good to this young man,” the letter reads. “Tavares has come a long way in the last two years in this community, and any jail time will certainly jeopardize this progress.”
Sledge also was suspended for two games in 2012 according to The Guardian archives. That suspension was for a violation of team policy.
Sledge played in 86 games for Wright State averaging 3.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Sledge is one of three players who have been arrested in the last 13 months from the team. In April, guard Mark Howell was pulled over for underage operation of a motor vehicle above the legal limit. Those charges were dropped in lieu of a count of reckless operation.
In September, JT Yoho was charged with DUI after taking a Breathalyzer test that found he had a .198 blood alcohol level. He is facing first-degree misdemeanor charges and will be before Root on Nov. 17.
Wright State men’s basketball preseason camp is set to begin Sunday night.
