The University of Cincinnati has dismissed starting point guard Jizzle James from its men’s basketball team, according to head coach Wes Miller. James had been away from the program since mid-July while managing undisclosed personal issues.
“Jizzle James has been dealing with personal issues throughout the summer,” Miller said in a statement. “We removed him from the team last month. He is currently not a member of our basketball program. As this is a personal matter, I will have no further comment at this time.” The announcement follows weeks of speculation prompted by social media posts from James and reports of unusual behavior.
James, son of Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Edgerrin James, was the Bearcats’ leading scorer last season. He averaged 12.7 points, 3.5 assists, and 3 rebounds per game in the 2024–25 season, starting all 35 contests. Previously a four-star recruit out of Olympia High School in Orlando, Florida, he joined Cincinnati over offers from Indiana, Miami, and USC and was ranked as the No. 10 point guard in his class.
With his dismissal, Cincinnati faces challenges in their backcourt for the upcoming season. The Bearcats are expected to rely on Kentucky transfer Kerr Kriisa, a guard with 94 career starts who returned earlier this summer after recovering from a knee injury. The team also added transfers Moustapha Thiam, Baba Miller, and Sencire Harris.
James’ departure leaves questions about leadership and depth for a team trying to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. Miller enters his fifth year as head coach facing increased pressure following consecutive losing seasons in Big 12 play; last year’s team finished with a record of 19–16 but did not make the postseason.
The future for James remains uncertain as options may include transferring to another program or pursuing professional opportunities.
