The sophomore, who was the Hawkeyes’ second-leading scorer when he was suspended Dec. 20 following his arrest on public-intoxication charges, has been cleared to begin working out with the team again, coach Todd Lickliter said Friday.
“He has not completed everything he needs to take care of, but everything is set in motion to be completed. He has completed everything he could complete up to this point,” Lickliter said. “We will make practice available to him and give him an opportunity.”
Tucker started Iowa’s first 11 games and was averaging 11.9 points and 2.9 assists when he was suspended from all team activities because of his second violation of the school’s student-athlete code of conduct.
As a part of the suspension, Tucker was required to undergo an alcohol evaluation and perform 30 hours of community service work.
Tucker pled guilty to the public-intoxication charges — his second in 13 months — earlier this month and paid $185 in fines and court costs in Johnson County District Court.
His teammates have said they would welcome Tucker’s return to the team.
“It would be great to get him back. He’s a great player who regrets a mistake he made. Hopefully things will work out for him,” guard Matt Gatens said.
Lickliter has suggested that Tucker will have to earn a return to the Hawkeyes’ rotation. He said Friday no timetable has been set for the 6-foot-4 guard to return to action.
“That will be an ongoing situation,” Lickliter said.
“We’ll evaluate as we go and at this point, nothing is set one way or the other. We’ll see how everything transpires in that regard.”
