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SoCalHoops College News

omm'A Givens Quits Pepperdine Team--(June 23, 1998)

omm'A Givens (6'-11" Sr. F/C), of Pepperdine, has decided to leave the Waves basketball program and will not play this year while he completes his degree. Look for him to try either the CBA or Europe this coming season. Givens was a former high school All-American whose college career never lived up to the high billing he got when he first entered college. Pepperdine coach Lorenzo Romar told reporters that Givens will remain a student at Pepperdine and pursue a degree in communications, but will not return to the team. "Omm'A decided to take a step back from basketball for a little while," Romar said. "He may try to play overseas."

Givens played in 19 games for Pepperdine last season, averaging 8.4 points and 3.9 rebounds. He was originally recruited at UCLA by Romar when he was an assistant under coach Jim Harrick, along with the others in the 1994 freshman class that included Toby Bailey, Kris Johnson and J.R. Henderson. But Givens was never a starter at UCLA and when Romar left to become head coach, so did Givens.

Givens was Pepperdine's starting center until he was suspended by Romar in January after an incident involving teammate Aaron Butler in practice. Givens was briefly reinstated before being suspended again for the remainder of the season. Romar said the incident contributed to Givens' decision not to return to the Waves. Romar told reporters, "I think it just took a lot out of him." With Givens not returning, the leading candidate to start at center is Nick Sheppard (6'-11" Jr. C) who sat out last season after transferring from Louisiana State.