Wake Forest basketball player Sam Japhet-Mathias was scheduled to end with Saturday’s home game against No. 20 Clemson. Instead, the sophomore center has been permanently dismissed from the team, coach Danny Manning announced Friday.
A release announcing the move stated that the disciplinary action against Japhet-Mathias was taken for “not meeting program expectations.”
The 6-foot-11, 280-pound native of London, England played in only six games this season, averaging 1.0 points and 1.3 rebounds. His last action came on Jan. 13 against Duke, when pressed into service because of foul trouble to regulars Doral Moore and Olivier Sarr, he score a season-high four points with two rebounds in 15 minutes at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
“I’ve got to stay ready,” Japhet-Mathias said after that game. “You can’t just say, ‘I’m not going to play in this game,’ you’ve got to stay on your toes in case Doral and Olivier get two quick fouls like they did in this game and you’re forced to play.”
Japhet-Mathias was hit with a one-week suspension from basketball-related activities on Jan. 26 before the Deacons traveled to Louisville for a game against the Cardinals.
