BILES LEAVING SLU BASKETBALL TEAM; FORMER CHARLESTON PREP STAR MAY ATTEND SOUTHEAST

Jeramy Biles in a Southeast Missouri State University basketball uniform?

All indications are that there is a good chance it will happen.

St. Louis University basketball coach Charlie Spoonhour announced this week that Biles, a former standout guard at Charleston High, has chosen not to return to the university for his sophomore season.

SLU officials said Biles ran into academic difficulties during his freshman year, which is the reason he decided not to return. The SLU department of athletics has given him permission to transfer to another school if he wishes to.

Biles is said to be extremely interested in transferring to Southeast, which recruited him extremely hard out of high school when the Indians' basketball program was headed up by Ron Shumate.

Gary Garner, Southeast's first-year coach, is not allowed under NCAA regulations to comment about a potential recruit until he actually signs with the program. But Biles was reportedly on the Southeast campus Thursday afternoon visiting with Garner and his staff.

Bobby Spencer, Biles' coach at Charleston, said that he believes Biles will transfer to Southeast and he's hoping that he does.

"I wanted Jeramy to come here (Southeast) out of high school," said Spencer. "I think it's going to happen."

Biles had a strong freshman season for Spoonhour's Billikens. He was SLU's third-leading scorer and earned a spot on the 1997 Conference USA All-Freshmen Team.

The ultra-quick Biles, who is 5-feet-10, averaged 7.4 points. 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game last season. He was the Billikens' leader in steals with 42, which set a SLU freshman record.

At Charleston, Biles was a two-time first-team Class 3A all-stater and he helped lead the Blue Jays to the 3A state championship as a senior in the 1995-96 season.

If Biles does transfer to Southeast or any other four-year school, he would have to sit out a full season under NCAA transfer rules, although he could practice with the team.

Meanwhile, another former Charleston all-stater who attends SLU is academically ineligible for the fall semester.

Corey Frazier, a 6-1 guard entering his senior season with the Billikens, has averaged 6.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in 59 career games. Frazier, who started 55 of those games, can regain his eligibility at the conclusion of the fall semester.

In a release through the university, Spoonhour said, "It is disappointing, because I enjoy both young men. Corey is working to regain his eligibility and we expect him to be ready to go in December. We're disappointed that it didn't work out for Jeramy but we will try to help him in whatever road he chooses to travel."