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ODU dismisses Key, reserve

Breon Key, Frantz Massenat

Old Dominion’s Breon Key, forward, draws the foul from Drexel defender Frantz Massenat during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, in Norfolk, Va. Drexel won 73-72. (AP Photo/The Virginian-Pilot, Stephen M. Katz)

AP

It’s a time of transition for Old Dominion University. Not only is the school preparing to move its sports teams to Conference USA soon, the dominant men’s basketball team is bidding farewell to a young player who was in line for more playing time next season.

Late Friday afternoon, Monarchs coach Blaine Taylor announced the dismissal of freshman Breon Key, who averaged 7.8 minutes and nearly two points per game. Those numbers may not be overly impressive, but Key would have had a very good shot at expanding his role in 2012-13 as the Monarchs learn to live without graduating seniors Kent Bazemore, Chris Cooper, Trian Iliadis and Marquel De Lancey.

“Breon’s accountability, academically and socially, was not up to our standards,” said ODU coach Blaine Taylor.

Key’s dismissal opened up a scholarship for ODU, which was quickly filled by 6'3" Hargrave Military Academy graduate Ambrose Mosley. ODU assistant John Richardson, who rejoined the Monarchs recently after a brief stint at Virginia Tech, had some previous knowledge of Mosley’s game: he watched him while he was scouting teammate Montrezl Harrell for the Hokies.

The Monarchs stayed atop the CAA for many years by finding hidden gems who could play stout defense, and Mosley may fit that bill very well, according to Taylor.

“We think he can be a very good player,” Taylor told the Hampton Roads Daily Press. “His nickname is ‘The Motor.’ He plays with good, continuous movement. He played on a team that won a lot, which I like. He’s kind of a combo guard, so we can use him at the point and off the ball. He has good size and long arms. He kind of fits the prototype of what we’re looking for at that position.”

ODU has long been one of the beefier teams in the mid-major ranks, but the Monarchs enter their final year in the Colonial with a guard-heavy lineup. It will be interesting to see how the impending move to C-USA changes the team’s recruiting fortunes.

Eric Angevine is the editor of Storming the Floor. He believes he can fly. He believes he can touch the sky.