Kaukauna's Donovan Ivory no longer part of UWGB men's basketball team
GREEN BAY – Donovan Ivory believed he had found his final basketball home after committing to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay last spring.
Instead, his career with the Phoenix is over after less than one season.
The team announced Thursday night after its loss at Youngstown State that the former Kaukauna star is no longer part of the program.
Ivory did not make the trip to Ohio with his teammates.
"After careful consideration, Donovan Ivory will no longer be a part of our basketball program," UWGB coach Will Ryan said in a statement. "We appreciate Donovan's commitment to the team this season and we wish him the very best in his future both on and off the court."
Ivory did not respond to a text message Thursday night. His father, Nick, did respond to a text but was not prepared to discuss his son’s situation until he spoke to him and got his thoughts on it.
Ivory is second on the team in scoring (11.9 ppg), third in rebounding (4.2) and assists (27) and first in blocks (15). He was averaging 26.2 minutes in 15 games, including nine starts.
The 6-foot-6 Ivory missed time recently with an upper body injury and because of COVID-19 protocols.
His return home wasn’t supposed to end like this. This was supposed to be where he played his final three seasons.
He spent the first semester of his collegiate career at UMass Lowell, averaging 5.7 minutes in three contests, before transferring to Boise State as a walk-on to start his sophomore season in 2020-21.
He played in three games for the Broncos before entering the NCAA transfer portal this past offseason.
Ivory was hoping to earn a scholarship at Boise State but realized the opportunity to earn meaningful minutes likely wasn’t going to happen with so many talented scholarship players on the roster.
He was asked after committing to the Phoenix if there was more pressure on him to make sure his stop in Green Bay worked.
“I don’t really look at it like that,” Ivory said in May. “I didn’t choose these schools on the basis that I don’t want to choose another school. Obviously, I want to stay at this school for the remainder of my career. At the same time, I don’t want to go into it thinking this has to work.
“GB is a good school, a good program. The staff seems to believe in me, and I believe in them. I’m going into this with the mindset that I’m going to give everything I can to this program so we can succeed. There is no backup option for me. I’m not looking to stay here for a year or two and leave. This is my final spot, and I’m ready to win with them.”
Ivory now will be seeking a fourth school. He still will have two seasons of eligibility remaining after this year if he decides to continue his collegiate career.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Kaukauna's Donovan Ivory no longer part of UWGB men's basketball team
