Miami's Suspension of Rashad Muhammad Not His First

Miami reserve wing, Junior Rashad Muhammad has been suspended for the first three games of the 2016-17 season for what the University identified as a Violation of team rules.

Muhammad sat out the 2015-16 season after transferring from San Jose State following the 2014-15 season. Muhammad led the Spartans in scoring his two seasons there and is the brother of Shabazz Muhammad of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He missed Friday’s victory over Western Carolina and will sit out Wednesday’s game at North Florida and Saturday’s home game against Pennsylvania.

This is not the first time Muhammad has been suspended. He along with three other starters received a three-game suspension in December 2014 when he was at San Jose State. The reason for the suspensions was undisclosed. Spartans coach Dave Wojcik told the Santa Cruz Sentinel at the time “I’m not going to put up with that.” A source told the Sentinel the reasons for the suspensions were “not a legal matter.

Spartans coach Dave Wojcik told the Santa Cruz Sentinel at the time “I’m not going to put up with that.” A source told the Sentinel the reasons for the suspensions were “not a legal matter.”

Muhammad transferred at the end of a 2-28 Spartans season. They were 2-9 at the time of his suspension that would last three games. There had been a stream of defections from the SJSU recruiting classes of 2013 and ’14. Nearly half of the players from those two recruiting classes were not with the team as of June 2016 according to Inside the Spartans on Scout.Com

Muhammad announced his transfer in May 2015, following two months of speculation that he would leave the program. The San Jose Mercury News reported at the time of Muhammad’s announcement that his departure might have been addition by subtraction. There were rumblings that he was not the best off the court influence to his teammates.

Muhammad’s father Ronald Holmes was an assistant coach at Bishop Gorman high school in Las Vegas where Muhammad and his brother played. He was sentenced to 37 months in prison March 2014 for his part in a $2.5 million mortgage fraud scheme.

Muhammad is expected to be a key figure coming off the bench for the Hurricanes. He has averaged 13.1 points per game, 3.1 rebounds per game, shot 37.9 percent on threes and 80.5 percent from the line in his first two seasons in college.

In addition to a shooter off the bench, Muhammad gives the ‘Canes an experienced wing in a group of young reserves. Muhammad left San Jose State third all-time with 134 made three-point goals.

Muhammad is scheduled to return against Stanford on Thanksgiving Day in the Advocare Classic in Orlando. The Cardinal won their season opener 80-70 against Harvard in Shanghai.