Lalanne has been suspended since the team's Dec. 1 loss to Miami (Fla.)
UMass' Cady Lalanne heads to the hoop as Harvard's Kenyatta Smith defends him during the team's Nov. 13 opener against Harvard.
After a 12-day suspension for an arrest at an on-campus function, sophomore Cady Lalanne has been reinstated to the University of Massachusetts basketball team by athletic director John McCutcheon while he awaits the results of a conduct case pending with the dean of students.
“I’m very grateful to rejoin the team and look forward to using this experience as a positive influence on campus and in the community,” Lalanne said at the team’s shootaround at the MassMutual Center Friday evening.
Lalanne was arrested Dec. 1 as part of a reported altercation with UMass police officers. He did not practice with the team until being reinstated Friday, and while he’s eligible to play Saturday against Elon, he will not start, according to coach Derek Kellogg.
“A lot of the important things that we’ve gone over in the past week and some change, he’s missed,” Kellogg said. “I think he’s available to play tomorrow, but normally he’d kind of get pushed back a little bit because other guys have moved in front of him.”
Senior Sampson Carter will get his second straight start at center in place of Lalanne.
Lalanne said he is in good shape physically despite the suspension. During the 12-day period, Lalanne said he worked out with the team’s strength coach, Richard Hogans, to help make sure he would be ready to return when called upon.
“I feel like I’m in better shape with my legs because I’ve been working out,” Lalanne said. “I feel like my legs are underneath me now.”
Kellogg said he feels like Lalanne has learned his lesson.
“Like with any kid, just by talking and being around him, he’s very remorseful and just wants to do the right thing,” Kellogg said. “I think he’s ready to move on, be a model citizen, a model player and a great student.”
Neither Kellogg nor Lalanne were able to comment on any of the specifics of Lalanne’s disciplinary procedures because of the legal issues surrounding the proceedings.
Lalanne was arraigned Dec. 3 at Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown, and is due back in court Jan. 9 for a pre-trial hearing.