MU'S SNYDER CUTS LOOSE JOHN

Duane John, arrested Saturday night in his dorm room for marijuana use and
misdemeanor possession of less than 35 grams of the substance, was
dismissed from the Missouri basketball team on Wednesday.

"We are saddened by this decision and wish only the best for Duane in the
future, both athletically and academically," MU coach Quin Snyder said in a
statement released by the school. "We value the confidentiality that we
maintain with our student-athletes and thus will not be commenting on the
specifics of this matter."

John, the statement said, planned to transfer at the end of the current
semester.

Requests for interviews with Snyder and John were turned down. Although MU
athletic director Mike Alden was clearly angered by John's arrest on drug
charges, Alden said on Tuesday that any action taken would be left up to
Snyder. Snyder didn't waste any time.

But what is obvious is that the MU roster for next season is down to nine
current scholarship players and to only eight players who played for
Missouri last season.

Sophomore point guard Wesley Stokes was granted a release to transfer
earlier this month. On the same day, Giedrius Rinkevicius, a 7-foot-2
recruit who had orally committed to MU but wasn't academically eligible
yet, declared for the NBA draft.

Kareem Rush, MU's leading scorer last season as a junior, also declared for
the NBA draft, and junior Justin Gage plans to skip basketball next season
and concentrate on football. The Tigers also lost Clarence Gilbert, the
lone senior on the MU squad that went to the Elite Eight last season.

John, a 6-6 freshman, played in 24 of Missouri's 36 games last season,
averaging only 3.5 minutes and 0.8 points.

John, who is from Toronto but was recruited out of Homestead Berkshire
Academy in Florida, was a disappointment most of last season and faced an
uphill battle for increased playing time next fall.

Barring a summer addition to the recruiting class, Missouri will head into
next season exceedingly thin as far as depth is concerned.

The projected starting lineup is expected to include juniors-to-be Arthur
Johnson, Travon Bryant and Rickey Paulding. Junior-college transfer Ricky
Clemons will be counted on as the main point guard. Jimmie McKinney, a
shooting guard from St. Louis Vashon -- and the plum of the current
recruiting class -- is the likely fifth starter.

However, off the bench, only Josh Kroenke at guard, swingman Najeeb Echols
and big man Jeffrey Ferguson have measurable experience.

John is the second player Snyder has dismissed in three seasons at MU. The
other, Kenge Stephenson, was kicked off the team during Snyder's first season.