January 25, 2002
Sophomore guard Michael Gardener of Detroit, Mich., has decided to leave the Texas A&M basketball team and will look to transfer to another school to continue his college basketball career, Texas A&M coach Melvin Watkins said Friday.
"After much discussion, we came to a mutual agreement with Michael that it would be best for him to continue his career elsewhere," Watkins said. "We are not sure where he will transfer, but we?ll do what we can to help him and we wish him well."
Gardener and freshman Daryl Mason were suspended prior to the Oklahoma game on Jan. 5 in Norman and have not appeared in the Aggies' five Big 12 games. Mason returned to practice on Monday but Watkins did not say when he would return to the lineup. Gardener started 11 of the first 12 games at point guard and averaged 6.9 points and 2.6 assists per contest.