Omari Peterkin has quit the basketball team and withdrawn from the University for personal reasons, the school announced Wednesday.
Peterkin, a 6-foot-8, 264-pound forward from the Virgin Islands, sat out the entire 2002-03 campaign, a decision Irish coaches said was necessary to help him adjust to the college game more.
But it seemed unlikely he would see significant playing time this year because he was playing behind Torin Francis, Tom Timmermans, Jordan Cornette and Rick Cornett at the forward and center positions.
"We support Omari's decision to withdraw from school and wish him the best in his future," Irish coach Mike Brey said in a statement.
Colleges across the country waged a fierce recruiting war for Peterkin, who had slipped below the radar, in April 2002. Notre Dame beat out other top college programs in part because Peterkin was intrigued by Notre Dame's strong academic regimen.
He was a member of the 2003 Virgin Islands National Team that competed in the Olympic qualifying tournament this summer in Puerto Rico. His best outing came in the team's loss to the United States, when Peterkin scored two points and grabbed four rebounds in 11 minutes of playing time.
DeMatha honors Brey
Brey has been chosen to receive a Distinguished Alumni Award from his alma mater DeMatha High School.
The award is given to one alumnus every two years for accomplishments achieved since leaving the high school.
Brey graduated from the high school in 1977 and was a two-year member of the varsity basketball team coached by the legendary Morgan Wootten. After going to college, Brey returned five years later to serve as an assistant coach under Wootten. He spent five years as Wootten's assistant before accepting an assistant coaching job under Mike Krzyzewski in 1987.
"I'm honored and flattered to receive this award," said Brey, who will be honored at an Oct. 26 dinner. "My experiences as a student, athlete and coach at DeMatha have prepared me and helped put me in position to be the head basketball coach at Notre Dame. I certainly have fond memories of DeMatha because it had such a great impact on my life."
