WASHINGTON — Two players have been removed from the Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team as of Monday evening. Point guard James Akinjo and forward Josh LeBlanc are both sophomores.
"James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc will not be playing for the men's basketball team effective immediately, and will not be members of the team for the remainder of the season," Head Coach Patrick Ewing announced in a statement on the school's website.
Lee Reed, Georgetown's athletic director, sent a letter to Hoya basketball supporters indicating Akinjo and LeBlanc were removed from the team because they "expressed an interest in transferring from the University."
The letter also referenced allegations made against three members of the team, which did not involve Akinjo.
"While Georgetown refrains from commenting on individual students in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), we take student conduct issues very seriously," the letter said. "Alleged conduct violations are investigated and adjudicated by the Office of Student Conduct through a fair and equitable process. Both the complainant and the accused student are given the opportunity to provide written and oral statements along with any relevant evidence before disciplinary actions are taken."
Reed's letter said that coaches can impose additional sanctions on players, such as removal from a team, in addition to disciplinary measures taken by the Office of Student Conduct.
Court documents filed in D.C. Superior Court show temporary restraining orders against LeBlanc and another Georgetown basketball player, Myron Gardner.
In the civil complaint, a Georgetown University student accused LeBlanc of sexual misconduct and burglary. The accuser claims, "there were threats to my personal safety and well-being." The accuser also said that she fears for her safety from Galen Alexander, a person she identified in the filed complaint as LeBlanc's best friend and member of the Georgetown basketball team.
LeBlanc's accuser said in the filed complaint that her roommates would also be filing their own temporary restraining orders.
In another civil complaint filed in D.C. Superior Court, a student accused Gardner of sexual harassment, assault, threat to do bodily harm, and burglary. The accuser alleges that Gardner was threatening and harassing her at her home.
WUSA9 reached out to LeBlanc's accuser and she told us she's okay and that she did not want to talk about the situation further.
It is unclear if the court filings are related to LeBlanc's removal from the university's basketball team.
Gardner and Alexander are still listed as members of the basketball team, according to the team's website.
"Please know that we are deeply committed to the integrity of our athletics program," Reed's letter said. "All student athletes are required to complete a four-tiered education model on interpersonal violence and sexual assault. Coach Ewing has taken additional steps to ensure a culture of responsibility and integrity within our Men's Basketball Team."
Akinjo appeared in seven games this season, averaging 13.4 points per game, with 31 assists; he was the team's second-highest scorer. Akinjo was also the Big East's freshman of the year last season.
LeBlanc appeared in six games this season, averaging 7.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.