Mookie Jones announced in a statement through his agent, Zachary Charles, that he is finished playing basketball in Syracuse.

“As most of you already heard, I am not coming back to Syracuse for my final season,” Jones said in the statement.

The university suspended Jones for one year after an SU student accused him of cyberbullying last fall. The suspension affected his eligibility as an athlete as this season would have been his last due to NCAA rules, which require athletes to complete their careers in five calendar years.

Due to the suspension, he would not have been able to return to school until January. After missing a year of classes, he would not have been eligible to join the team as athletes must maintain progress toward their degree to remain eligible in sports.

Jones decided to leave SU and sign with Charles, an agent with 610 Sports and Entertainment Management. The agency, founded by president and agent Corey D. McCoy in 2005, represents former NBA guard Damon Jones among others.

Jones thanked his coaches, teammates and Syracuse fans in the statement. He also said he plans to return to Syracuse to complete his degree.

The former SU guard, who played in seven games for the Orange last season, will now pursue a career in professional basketball. He said he hopes to play in the National Basketball League of Canada next season.

“I look forward to playing very hard and proving to every one that I was meant to play this game,” Jones said.

Published on August 4, 2012 at 6:00 pm

Contact Ryne: rjgery@syr.edu