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Grant comments, Alabama makes Pollard news official

Devonta Pollard

AP Photo

AP

Alabama forward Devonta Pollard is no longer enrolled at the university, the school announced Monday.

Crimson Tide coach Anthony Grant made his first extensive public comments on the issue since it happened in a statement. Pollard has been charged with taking part in a kidnapping scheme that involved certain members of his family, including his mother, on April 30.

In a statement, Grant expressed sympathy for Pollard in his current situation.

“Devonta has endured a very challenging time these past few months due to the legal issues involving him and his family. Our primary concern is and has always been his well-being and doing what is in his best interest. In light of the issues at hand, we felt it best to allow him the time he needed to focus solely on family without having to address his status as a student-athlete. In a recent meeting with Devonta, he informed me that he and his family have decided that he needs to withdraw from The University of Alabama so that he can be closer to his family during this difficult time. Devonta has my full support with his decision. It was a pleasure coaching him this past season. As this is an ongoing legal situation, I cannot comment further.”

In his lone season with the program, Pollard, the only recruit of the 2012 class for Grant, averaged 3.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.

With Pollard leaving school, Alabama will now have to replace four players off last season’s roster with the defections of Trevor Lacey (North Carolina State), Ben Eblen (UNC-Wilmington) and Moussa Gueye (Valparaiso).

Follow David Harten on Twitter at @David_Harten