Dupree Is Suspended

With the basketball season still more than two months away, junior forward Jerry Dupree of USC was suspended Monday for the first six games by Coach Henry Bibby, who cited no specific reason for his action.

“It’s a team decision, my decision,” said Bibby. “It’s about his personal priorities ... and that can be looked at in different scopes.”

Asked if there were academic issues, Bibby replied, “I’m not saying that at all. I’m saying he needs to work on some personal things and get them in priority and go from there and he’ll be back with us after that time. He needs to get his life in order.”

Bibby added that he could reduce the penalty if he saw Dupree progressing.

Dupree, who transferred to USC from San Bernardino Valley College a year ago, frustrated Bibby at times last season and was left behind when the Trojans traveled to Oregon and Oregon State.

The Moreno Valley native averaged 3.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 11.7 minutes during the regular season, then turned it on in the Pacific 10 Conference tournament, averaging 10.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and two blocked shots in helping USC reach the title game.

An upbeat Dupree declined to comment on his situation Monday at Heritage Hall, though he intimated he would right his course.