Oklahoma has kicked one of its players out of its program for being accused of repeated physical incidents with others.
A school official confirmed to CBS Sports on Thursday morning that Akolda Manyang is no longer a member of the OU men's basketball team. A report from the Rochester Post-Bulletin states Manyang was arrested at approximately 3 in the morning on Wednesday. The pinch came after Manyang and a friend reportedly assaulted a taxi driver -- then stealing the keys to that cab.
Manyang has been charged with first-degree aggravated robbery for his involvement in the incident.
Manyang was suspended from the program in early May after he was charged with aggravated assault and battery following a fight with a Sooner football player. Manyang took out two teeth of said football player in a fight that happened in the early hours of the morning.
As for Wednesday's incident, the Post-Bulletin reports:
Capt. John Sherwin said the two men were "drunk and belligerent and didn't know the address" where they wanted to be dropped off at 2:20 a.m. When the cab driver ordered them out of his vehicle, the two men smashed the driver's clipboard on the ground, assaulted the driver and chased him around the parking lot before he found safety in a hotel lobby and the two suspects attempted to flee before being arrested.
...The separate felony charges come in the wake of personal tragedy for Manyang, who lost his older brother, Ater Manyang, to suicide on March 18. Ater was at a state addiction treatment center in St. Peter at the time of his death.
Akolda's grieving process included leaving the Oklahoma men's basketball team during its Final Four run to spend time with family in Rochester prior to the April 2 funeral at Zumbro Lutheran Church.
It's certainly sad and disappointing. Manyang's gone through an unexpected turn through life over the past few months. He didn't get to fully enjoy Oklahoma's run to the Final Four, and now, in the wake of his brother's suicide, has physically lashed out to the point where it could cost him ever playing Division I college basketball again.
Manyang, 23, was a junior last season and averaged 2.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.
