USC Basketball: Percy “Lil’ Romeo” Miller says he’s still on the team
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
USC sophomore guard Percy ‘Lil’ Romeo’ Miller today refuted a statement released earlier this month that said he had been forced off the team.
The statement, which he said was not released by him, said, ‘I’m sad that my basketball season at USC will end early due to a violation from an incident that happened two years ago, which is not fair.’
The report of him leaving the team was repeated this weekend by ESPN Los Angeles.
‘Not my statement at all,’ Miller told The Times after practice Monday. ‘That said, I had my mom and dad call me, like, ‘You quit the team?’ And I was like, ‘What are y’all talking about?’ Then I went online and saw, and it was crazy. I guess since people haven’t been seeing me on the road and people have been throwing what they want out there.’
Miller said he hasn’t been involved in any violations.
He has been suffering from an AC joint sprain to his left shoulder, which has caused him to miss most of the season. He did not travel with the team to Hawaii for the Diamond Head Classic tournament or to the Bay Area for games against Stanford and California.
Miller last played for USC on Dec. 5 in the Trojans’ 79-53 loss at then-No. 23 Georgia Tech. He has scored two points in three appearances this season totaling seven minutes.
‘I’m just out with my injury,’ he said. ‘If it wasn’t for my injury, I’d be out there practicing and playing. I love this team. I won’t quit this team. These are like my brothers.’
Aside from talking to The Times today, Miller, who is more well known for his hip hop music success and for his father Master P, said he has only done one other interview since the season began.
Miller said he doesn’t have a Twitter account ‘so I don’t really care to defend myself. The only stuff that’s officially from me is from my MySpace [page].’
Miller also refuted the section of the statement that said he would now work on a new album set for release on Aug. 10.
-- Baxter Holmes