Jan. 23, 2007

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - Notre Dame point guard Kyle McAlarney was suspended from school for his arrest last month on a marijuana possession charge, his mother said Tuesday.

Janice McAlarney said her son was told Monday that he could not continue to attend classes this semester. She said she's not sure what the suspension means for his future.

"All I know is my son was suspended yesterday from school and he's headed home," she said from her home in Staten Island, N.Y. "I don't know anything else beyond that. All I know is I'm ashamed of how they did this. ... I'm ashamed of the university. My son is a great kid. He did not deserve this. The punishment did not fit the crime."

A message seeking comment from Kyle McAlarney was left on his cell phone.

Bernie Cafarelli, Notre Dame sports information director, said neither she nor coach Mike Brey could comment because of privacy laws. The team was in New York for a game Tuesday night against St. John's.

McAlarney, a sophomore, started the first 12 games this season for the 22nd-ranked Irish (16-3) and averaged 10.3 points. The Irish have gone 5-2 since McAlarney was suspended from playing after his arrest on Dec. 29.

Two weeks ago, the 19-year-old McAlarney entered a pretrial diversion program that would allow him to have the charge dismissed in a year if he passes random drug tests and stays out of trouble.

McAlarney was arrested after marijuana was discovered in his car last month during a routine traffic stop a few blocks from campus. The arrest came hours after he scored a career-high 21 points against Rider.

McAlarney, who began spring semester classes last week, had continued to practice with the team until Monday.

Don Wycliff, the university's associate vice president for news and information, said he couldn't comment. But speaking about general university policy, he said a student dismissed for violating university rules could apply for readmission depending on the penalty handed down by the office of the vice president for student affairs.