Curry Kicked Off Team at Ventura

Calvin Curry, the only freshman starter on the Ventura College basketball team last season, was kicked off the team for missing classes and has left school, Ventura Coach Phil Mathews said Wednesday.

“He’s a very good player, but at Ventura academics come first,” Mathews said. “If Calvin comes back he would be a redshirt (next season). He would have to prove to me he can go to class. It’s his choice.”

Curry, a 6-foot-5 swingman from Compton High, entered the starting lineup in early January and Ventura lost only once thereafter. A Western State Conference All-Northern Division pick, he averaged 12.8 points and 5.5 rebounds and scored 16.1 points per game in conference play. Mathews said Curry had a 2.8 grade-point average his first semester but began skipping classes after the season.

“I’ve never had an instance where I’ve had to actually kick my best player coming back off the team,” Mathews said. “We’re always going to get good players. Part of it is because we do those things academically.”

Mathews said two top high school guards already have committed to Ventura. Stephane Brown of Channel Islands, a Times All-Ventura County selection, told Mathews on Tuesday he would attend Ventura. Granada Hills’ Jerry Allen, The Times’ Valley player of the year, also has expressed a desire to attend Ventura.