Andrew Pace
Lagerald Montrell Vick is an American basketball player who last played for the Southland Sharks in the 2024 New Zealand NBL season. In 2015, he committed to the Kansas Jayhawks and KU head coach Bill Self. On February 8, 2019, it was announced that Vick would be taking a leave of absence from the team to handle personal and family issues. This came after a disappointing performance in a game against Kansas State, where he played just four minutes in the first half due to defensive lapses. Vick's departure from the team was abrupt and unexpected, given his promising career with the Jayhawks. Since graduating from Kansas in 2019, he has played professional basketball in various countries, including Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Uruguay, and Mexico.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | January 12, 1997 |
| Birthplace | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Height | 6-foot-5 |
| Teams played for | Kansas Jayhawks, Southland Sharks, Yulon Luxgen Dinos, Team Cali, Astros de Jalisco, Mass Street |
| Achievements | Gold with the USA University National Team at the World University Games in South Korea, Kansas Jayhawks record for most 3-pointers made in consecutive games, two pro basketball titles |
| Reason for leaving Kansas | Personal issues, family issues, drug usage (rumoured) |
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What You'll Learn
Lagerald Vick's leave of absence from the Kansas Jayhawks in 2019
On February 8, 2019, Kansas senior guard Lagerald Vick announced he would be taking a leave of absence from the Kansas Jayhawks to handle personal issues. This came after Vick's sub-par performance in the team's loss at Kansas State on February 5, 2019, which went down as the final official game in his KU career.
Vick's leave of absence was announced by KU basketball coach Bill Self, who released a statement saying:
> "Lagerald has some personal matters that require his immediate attention and he will be taking a leave of absence from our team. During this time, we will respect Lagerald’s privacy. There is no timetable for his return."
Vick's mother, La La Vick, confirmed that Vick would be returning to his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, to help out with family issues. She told *The Star*, "We need him here for a couple of weeks. I need him. There's a lot going on. It'll work out."
Speculation surrounded Vick's abrupt departure, with some citing drug use and family matters as possible reasons for his leave of absence. One Reddit user commented, "I wish him the best. I hope he handles whatever demons or family problems he's having but I think the coach is tired of his sh*t." Another user alluded to rumours of issues between Vick's mother and Coach Self, saying, "I never heard the rumors of his mother going off on Self (not saying they are true or not)...His mom basically [told him]...enough playing for 'fun' at KU and [it was] time to start making some money to support his family."
Despite the unexpected departure, Vick went on to have a successful career in professional basketball, playing in various countries, including Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Uruguay, and Mexico.
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Vick's subsequent career in international basketball
After leaving Kansas, Lagerald Vick went on to play international basketball. In December 2019, he played two games for the Yulon Luxgen Dinos of the Super Basketball League in Taiwan. Following this brief stint, Vick joined Team Cali of the Baloncesto Profesional Colombiano in October 2021. Across 13 games, he averaged 17.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.
In January 2024, Vick signed with the Southland Sharks for the 2024 New Zealand NBL season but was released in April of the same year. During his time with the Sharks, he played alongside the Astros de Jalisco and Spartans de Districto Captital Caracas, as indicated by his player profile.
Vick's decision to pursue international basketball opportunities was influenced by personal responsibilities and financial considerations. Rumors circulated about his mother's involvement, suggesting that she encouraged him to prioritize supporting his family over his basketball career at KU.
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His early life and college basketball career
Lagerald Montrell Vick, born on January 12, 1997, is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. He attended Douglass High School and initially committed to SMU and head coach Larry Brown. However, on May 17, 2015, he changed his commitment to the University of Kansas Jayhawks and head coach Bill Self.
As a freshman at Kansas, Vick saw limited playing time, appearing in 19 games and averaging 4.8 minutes and 2.1 points per game. Despite the limited playing time, he was named to the 2015-16 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team. In his sophomore year, he became a more integral part of the team, playing in 36 games and averaging 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 37% shooting from three-point range.
Vick's breakout year came during his junior season when he played in 39 games and averaged 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. He shot an impressive 37.3% from beyond the arc and was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection. During this season, he also helped the USA University National Team win gold at the World University Games in South Korea. Following his successful junior year, Vick announced his intention to enter the 2018 NBA draft but later withdrew his name. He ultimately decided to return to Kansas for his senior year, where he continued to excel on the court. On November 16, 2018, he set a new career-high in points, scoring 33 points against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. He also had an impressive performance against the Vermont Catamounts, scoring 32 points. On January 12, 2019, he reached a milestone, scoring his 1,000th career point as a college player.
However, Vick's senior season was interrupted when he took an indefinite leave of absence in February 2019 to deal with personal matters in his hometown of Memphis. The final official game of his college career was a loss to Kansas State on February 5, 2019. Despite this interruption, Vick's college career was a success, and he went on to have a professional basketball career, playing in various countries, including Mexico, Venezuela, and New Zealand.
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Vick's reasons for leaving the Kansas Jayhawks
On February 8, 2019, Kansas Jayhawks basketball player Lagerald Vick announced he would be taking a leave of absence from the team to handle personal issues. While the specific reasons for his departure were not disclosed, various rumours circulated regarding his absence.
Some sources suggested that Vick was dealing with family issues, particularly concerning his children and their mother. It was rumoured that Vick's mother, La La Vick, was taking care of her grandchildren and their mother while Vick played basketball at KU. She reportedly pressured him to start making money to support his family, which may have influenced his decision to leave the team.
Additionally, there were rumours of drug use and issues with his coach, Bill Self. Vick's final game was at K-State, where he played only four minutes due to defensive lapses. KU lost that game, and it was rumoured that Vick's mother expressed her dissatisfaction with Coach Self, which may have contributed to the decision for Vick to take a leave of absence.
Vick's departure from the Kansas Jayhawks appeared to be abrupt, and he did not return to the team for the remainder of the season. While the exact reasons for his leave of absence remain private, it seems that a combination of personal, family, and basketball-related factors influenced his decision to step away from the team.
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The Kansas Jayhawks' performance after Vick's departure
On February 8, 2019, Kansas Jayhawks basketball player Lagerald Vick announced he would be taking a leave of absence from the team to handle personal issues. At the time, Vick was the team's best three-point shooter, and his departure left the team with a significant gap to fill.
Vick's absence presented an opportunity for other players to step up and assert themselves without worrying about deference to a senior player. However, none of the remaining players possessed Vick's pure jumper ability and knack for making tough, guarded three-point shots. To compensate for the loss of Vick, the team would need to adopt a different philosophy and mentality, emphasising ball movement and confident shooting.
The immediate impact of Vick's departure was felt in the team's performance. In their first game without Vick, the Jayhawks suffered 23 turnovers against Kansas State. Despite this initial setback, the team remained optimistic about their chances for the rest of the season. They believed that a Big 12 title was still within reach, and their seeding in upcoming tournaments was projected to be between 3 and 6.
While the Jayhawks experienced a setback with Vick's leave of absence, his departure also presented an opportunity for the team to play with more freedom and for younger players to step up and become more assertive. The team's performance following Vick's departure highlights the impact of individual players on a team's dynamics and the subsequent adjustments needed to adapt to their absence.
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Frequently asked questions
Vick took a leave of absence from the Kansas Jayhawks in February 2019 to tend to personal matters in his hometown of Memphis. He had a promising career with the team, but it was abruptly cut short.
No, Lagerald Vick did not return to the team. His final official game with the Kansas Jayhawks was on February 5, 2019, against Kansas State.
After his departure, Vick played basketball in various countries, including Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Taiwan, Uruguay, and Mexico. He also played for Team Cali of the Baloncesto Profesional Colombiano in October 2021 and the Southland Sharks of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) in 2024.
