Dismissed Davies expects to return to BYU basketball

SALT LAKE CITY – Forward Brandon Davies expects to suit up next season for BYU despite missing this year’s NCAA tournament run for violating the university’s honor code.

Carri Jenkins, a university spokesperson, said Friday that Davies voluntarily withdrew from school after completing his winter semester finals but is working with the dean of students to meet conditions so he’ll be eligible to return for the fall semester.

If he meets those conditions, Jenkins said the expectations are the 6-foot-9 Davies will return for his junior year.

Davies’ honor code violation involved premarital sex. He acknowledged the violation when it became known to school officials. BYU has not commented on how it became aware of the violation.

Davies issued a statement released by BYU saying he looked forward to continuing his education at BYU and playing basketball.

“There’s a pretty long list of people that I’d like to thank who are helping me through this difficult time,” Davies said in the statement. “It’s been very hard emotionally but thanks to the love and support of many, I’ll be able to get through it.”

The school announced Davies’ dismissal from the team March 1 after being made aware of the violation one day earlier – the same day BYU vaulted to No. 3 in the AP poll.

Davies was not allowed to represent BYU on the court after violating the school’s honor code, but he cheered his teammates on from the end of the bench.

BYU’s honor code requires students to live a chaste and virtuous life, be honest, abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee and substance abuse, and attend church regularly.

Jenkins said between 1.5 and 3.5 percent of students over the past decade have had some honor code issues but most have been minor matters.