LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After a series of contradicting statements from Louisville basketball and Koron Davis Wednesday regarding the player's status with the Cardinals, Louisville said he was "dismissed" from the team.
In a press conference after Louisville's 75-63 loss to Arkansas State, head coach Kenny Payne called the latest statement "pretty plain."
"I don’t want to really dwell on it," he said. "I care about the kid and I wish him the best."
He added he couldn't shed any light on the two different statements made by the university - the first saying he was transferring and the second saying he was dismissed - about Davis' status with the team, but that he wishes he could.
"It’s emotional for me simply because he’s a good kid," Payne said. "It’s one of those circumstances. But we’ve already addressed it."
Watch the full press conference here:
Louisville issued the following statement around 6:40 p.m.:
“Prior to the program issuing a statement this afternoon, Louisville junior guard Koron Davis was informed that he had been dismissed from the men’s basketball team. Davis has expressed that he intends to continue his college basketball career and would pursue opportunities at another institution. We wish him nothing but the best.”
This all started when Louisville basketball released a statement Wednesday saying that Davis entered the transfer portal, but a social media post from Davis disputed that claim.
The basketball program originally said:
“University of Louisville junior guard Koron Davis has informed the program that he intends to transfer. We support him and wish him well in the future.”
Davis was no longer listed on the official UofL roster as of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
However, Davis posted on X just before 4 p.m. that the official statement from UofL was spreading "false information."
"I didn’t express to anyone at U of Louisville that I wanted to transfer. I never asked to transfer. I enjoy being a Cardinal. The fact an official statement was released giving false information is disheartening and sad."
WHAS11's Sport Reporter Mason Horodyski said Davis was at the Yum! Center Wednesday night at the Louisville women's and men's double header. Horodyski tried to speak with Davis, but he said he does not plan on taking interviews at this time.
In a previous post, Davis said he wants to thank everyone at UofL for taking him in.
"I want to say thank you to everyone at U of Louisville, Cards Nation and the city of Louisville for taking me in."
Davis committed to UofL in January as a junior college transfer and signed his letter of intent in April. However the 6-foot-6 guard from Gary, Ind., didn't appear in a game.
Recently, Davis has not been on the bench with the team during games. A picture circulating on social media appeared to show Davis sitting in the Yum! Center stands during the team's Nov. 29 home game against Bellarmine.
"I have nothing to say about Koron Davis," Payne said last Friday during a news conference. "Koron Davis is not in trouble. I didn't know he was at the game, but if he was, that's fine with me. He's a part of this team right now."
Payne made similar comments following Louisville's 61-41 win over Coppin State on Nov. 15 when asked why Davis wasn't at the game.
"Great question on Koron Davis," he said. "It was my decision not to have Koron Davis come today. He is not in any trouble. I will not address it right now because this is about the guys who just played tonight. But he is not in any trouble."
Davis figured to play a significant role on this year's team after a stellar two-year career at Los Angeles Southwest Community College. He averaged 23.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game last season, and shot 33% from the 3-point line.
The Cardinals take on Arkansas State Wednesday in Louisville.
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