Kansas basketball dismisses transfer Arterio Morris after rape charge

Kansas guard Arterio Morris was dismissed from the team Friday after he was arrested on suspicion of rape, the team announced.

Morris was booked Friday by the Douglas County, Kansas Sheriff's Office for a felony count of "rape, circumstances unknown," according to documents obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

Morris' bail was set at $75,000 and he is no longer in custody as of Friday afternoon.

According to the documents, Morris is facing "a minimum of 147 months to a maximum of 653 months in prison and/or a fine of up to $300,000 and 36 months of post-release supervision."

"When we learned of allegations regarding Arterio Morris, he was suspended from the Kansas men's basketball program," Kansas head coach Bill Self said in a statement Friday. "We are now aware he has been arrested and charged, and he was dismissed from the program. As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are not able to comment further at this time."

Morris transferred to Kansas in the offseason after playing in 38 games last season for Texas, averaging 4.6 points and 1.4 rebounds a game.

He was already suspended after the Kansas City Star reported that the University of Kansas Police Department was investigating Morris following a sexual assault allegation that took place at a campus residence where basketball players live.

Morris transferred despite facing a misdemeanor assault charge in Texas, where he spent his freshman season playing for the Longhorns. According to Frisco police, he was arrested after officers were called to his ex-girlfriend’s house, where she told police that he had grabbed her arm, pulled her off a bed and caused an injury to her neck.

The 20-year-old Morris was scheduled to appear at a jury trial next week, but it was canceled earlier this month, when he entered a no contest plea to a Class C charge and ordered to pay a $362 fine. 

In announcing that Morris had transferred to Kansas, Self said the school was aware of the charges he was facing in Texas, and that school administrators had spoken with compliance officers at the University of Texas and within its athletic department.

“Based on these discussions, we are comfortable welcoming Arterio to the University of Kansas,” Self said at the time, “and he is well aware of the high standards and expectations that come with being a member of the Kansas men’s basketball program. We fully expect him to meet those daily.”

Contributing: Associated Press