Murray State medical team doesn’t clear sophomore to play

Story by Mark McFarland, Sports Editor

Despite being cleared by his doctors, sophomore guard Kedrick Flomo was not cleared by the Murray State medical team to take the court for the Racers for the 2016-17 season.

Doctors at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center cleared Flomo April 11 to resume his collegiate basketball career. However, in order to play for the Racers in the upcoming season, the medical team at Murray State had to clear him.

“I wasn’t cleared by the Murray State medical staff; I was cleared by the doctor that did my surgery at the Vanderbilt hospital to play basketball again,” Flomo said. “Murray State just refused everything, and they felt like the safest thing for me to do was not to play basketball.”

He said the university thought it was a risky situation.

Flomo said he asked for his full release and permission to transfer on Tuesday, and later that day, he was informed he would be granted his full release and ability to leave the university should he choose to.

Murray State Athletics released a press release April 21, stating Flomo would be unable to play for the Racers, but the university would honor his scholarship opening another athletic scholarship available for Head Coach Matt McMahon to use for his program.

Flomo said he is weighing his options on whether he will transfer and go play somewhere else or stay at Murray State and focus solely on academics.

“Whatever I feel like is best for me, then that’s what I am going to do,” Flomo said.

Flomo said basketball has always been with him but wants to make the best decision for himself and his health.

“Basketball is a big part of my life,” Flomo said. “I’ve met most of the people closest to me through basketball, and it has taught me a lot of life’s values.”

With it being only a couple weeks after he was cleared, Flomo said he is going to continue to work out as he has been to be ready for the upcoming season if he decides to transfer.

“I’m going to continue to do what I’ve been doing, running everyday and staying in the gym,” Flomo said. “Regardless if I’m playing basketball or not, I’m always going to be in the gym, it’s just something I have been doing my whole life.”

Flomo said he expects himself to be fully ready for the season and says there are examples of athletes who keep him going.

“It’s being done right now,” Flomo said. “I know some people that have had open heart surgery, and they are playing basketball as we speak, professionally and collegiate.”

“I’ve been thinking about it over the period of time, if I don’t play I’m going to be wondering what if – but at the same time, I know the ball is going to stop bouncing,” Flomo said.

Flomo only played one full season at Murray State, where he played in 29 games and averaged one point per game. He said Murray State was a fun place to play every time he got the chance.

“It was great,” Flomo said. “It’s a great basketball place and the tradition here is real good. Just the atmosphere in the Bank, the home games are always something I’ll remember, and I will take that experience with me wherever I go.”

Although Flomo is still trying to decide what he and his family think is best for him, he said other schools haven’t contacted him yet to try to convince him to move on and continue to play basketball.

“I haven’t been talking to anybody right now,” Flomo said. “Personally, I haven’t talked too much, so I don’t know.”