Skip to content

Mother of Manhattan's Lawrence outraged by half-season suspension, reduced scholarship

Brett Davis / Reuters

When Jermaine Lawrence failed a marijuana test in September, the Manhattan College forward was hit with a one-game preseason suspension. Now, Lawrence has been suspended for half the season and stripped of half his scholarship, and he doesn't know why.

"He was told that he was going to miss one game, and then it completely changed," Marcia Lawrence, Jermaine's mother, told ESPN's Jeff Goodman. "They said it was his second offense two months later."

The letter Lawrence received from the school documenting his preseason suspension said a second positive test would result in losing half his scholarship and a suspension equivalent to 50 percent of the season.

However, according to Marcia, Jermaine hasn't failed a drug test since September. In fact, she said Jermaine has passed two random tests and volunteered to remain in drug counselling throughout the basketball season. Still, the school has refused to let him play.

"And now he can't go anywhere else even if he wanted to," she said. "He's stuck because they didn't tell him until November."

Marcia said she sent six emails to Manhattan athletic director Noah LeFevre seeking clarity about her son's situation, all of which have gone ignored. She believes the school is punishing Jermaine for not taking a drug test last year.

"Jermaine didn't take it because he didn't feel it wasn't random at all," she said.

She added, "There was no policy in place, no written consent for drug testing. He elected not to take the drug test. I've tried to reach out and get an explanation, but no one has gotten back to me."

Jermaine is a former four-star recruit, who initially signed with Cincinnati but later transferred to the Jaspers. He averaged 4.8 points per game last year playing the power forward position.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox