Virginia Tech forward C.J. Barksdale has been suspended the first three games of the year, head coach James Johnson announced on Monday. The Hokies suspended Barksdale for a “violation of team rules.”
A 6-foot-8 junior and former Rivals top-100 prospect, Barksdale averaged 5.6 points and 4.7 points per game as a sophomore and will miss three home games for the Hokies against USC Upstate, West Virginia and Western Carolina. Barksdale will continue to practice with the team according to Norm Wood of the Daily Press.
“I am disappointed in C.J.,” Johnson said in a statement. “He is a young man who made a bad decision and now must deal with the consequences. I know that he will come back from this suspension and continue be a valuable member of this program.”
Virginia Tech also stated, “This will be the only comment about the situation by any member of the Virginia Tech Athletics staff, coaching staff, basketball team or Barksdale.”