re: Hickey, Hammink, Morgan not returning (OP Updated with Moscona tweet)

I trust Johnny, it's just a shitty pill to swallow.

I really enjoyed watching Hickey's career. Even if his "leadership" was lacking, I'll always think back fondly of him. The kid was a scrapper. I always felt he shot a higher percentage beyond the arc than he actually did. I had confidence when he had the ball in his hand, and I may be in the minority here.

He'll always be the Miss St killer to me.

@MattMoscona: Been told Anthony Hickey was dismissed from #LSU bball team for disciplinary issues but was offered to stay on scholly to finish his degree

For everyone doubting Jones's character. Here ya go.

Well first I think it's sad. I'm old school and like to have players that come back and we have continuity. I find it more than a little weird that fans that praised players when they are here can turn on them so easily when they leave. Apparently none of these players left on their own but were asked to leave. Well not sure about Malik Morgan.

With the departure of Morgan and Hammink and the previous transfer of Corban Collins, CJJ's first freshmen recruits are all gone within two seasons. I remember feeling such excitement when they were announced and watching them in those first few early season games. Morgan and Hammink were shooting lights out from three and Corban looked okay handling the ball. Somehow or other that never worked out.

I know I am in the minority but I thought Hammink still showed a lot of potential and could have developed into a solid player over the full four years. Guess he had some of the same problems as Hickey staying out of CJJ's dog house.

Hickey was never as good as some people built him up to be or as bad as some are saying now. He was inconsistent and could shine or not. Quarterman will never replace him unless he gets better on turnovers and improves his shooting. Hickey wasn't a good shooter but despite what some say now he was a clutch shooter for the most part. They seem to remember only the last minute shots he missed and not the ones he made.

After the injury, I thought Morgan might be the one to go. He never developed real guard skills and was more of a short three than a two. Still he helped win more than one game and I thank him for being here.

Let's hope Gray and Hornsby haven't been overhyped and can produce for us next year. Practice and JC ball are one thing and the SEC is another as many a player has found out. Depth will be a problem unless we get a transfer or two and I thought that was one of the problems last year that CJJ didn't give our starters enough rest.

So all the best to those who leave and welcome to those who come in but damn college athletics just isn't amateur anymore is it. Coaches get huge dollars and move players in and out like chess pieces. Just seems a little cold and lonely to me.

One thing I will not miss is seeing Hickey brick free throws like Deandre Jordan.

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That definitely shows coach wants what's best for him, but you can't break rules.

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Lol. It's a good way to cover his arse. CJJ knows he's not going to give up basketball & take that deal. I'm not mad either way.

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I trust Johnny

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That makes one of us. Bad hire all around - no in-game coaching, and now he's running off a solid player for his senior year.

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So you want him to keep a player who can't stop getting in trouble? I'm a fan of Hickey, but there is a time where a coach should show who's in charge and CJJ did that.

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Again, Hickey's "trouble" has always been stuff like missing meetings and class. There have NEVER been any indications of any serious character issues.

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Again, Hickey's "trouble" has always been stuff like missing meetings and class. There have NEVER been any indications of any serious character issues.

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At what point do you say "enough is enough" to the minor indiscretions? Jones asked him to be a leader from day one and he hasn't held up his end to the fullest. This isn't a YMCA league. I will always appreciate what Hickey has done for us and he was probably my favorite player the last three years, but sometime you do what is best for your program.

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There are a lot of kids who do a lot worse than Hickey and stay on their teams.

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We are all speculating to an extent, but based off the last two years and what we know, this screams of a straw-that-broke-the-camel's-back situation. When you consider that Jones, from day one, wanted Hickey to be a team leader and to lead by example on and off the court, it's not too hard to understand why Jones had had enough.

Again, I don't want this to seem like an attack on Hickey. I LOVED watching him play and loved the way he seemed to put the team on his back and willed us to victory several times. And he does seem like a good kid. But, Jones obviously wasn't satisfied with the way Hickey handled his responsibilities as a supposed team leader, and a change had to me made. That's the way it goes sometimes.

Goes without saying that I wish Hick the best.

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Would you feel any differently if it was revealed that the rest of the team disagreed with CJJ's decision?

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I dunno, I guess maybe a little? Nearly impossible to really answer that.

I trust that the coach wouldn't do something to alienate the rest of his players just to prove a point. I also would want him to do what he thinks is best for the program and its future, as he knows damn well better than any of us what that is.