Kentucky Kicks Stone Off Team

Kentucky center Marvin Stone was kicked off the team Thursday after not returning from the holiday break.

The 6-foot-10 junior is the first player dismissed in Coach Tubby Smith’s five seasons.

“Marvin has been dealing with some issues outside of basketball and we just want to wish him the best in whatever he decides to do,” Smith said.

“We’re going to be releasing him and he’ll be moving on. With that comes opportunities for other players. We’ll have to step up on our front line to make up for his departure.”

No. 6 Kentucky plays Louisville on Saturday.

Stone went home to Huntsville, Ala., and missed two practices before Smith spoke with him Wednesday night.

Stone, who arrived at Kentucky as a McDonald’s All-American, averaged 5.3 points and 4.2 rebounds in 75 games with the Wildcats, including 11 starts.

He had a chance to be the Wildcats’ primary big man this season after sophomore center Jason Parker went out with a knee injury.

But Stone lost the starting role after two games and hasn’t played more than 18 minutes in any game since.

If Stone transfers to another school, he would have to sit out a year and then would have one year of eligibility remaining.