By Adam Bagni
Collegian Staff
October 11, 2006

Junior Tabby Cunningham, a guard known for his lightning speed and small stature, has decided to quit playing basketball, the University recently announced.

The junior stated, in the official Athletic Department press release, that he will remain at La Salle to pursue his degree in accounting.

There comes a certain point in time you have to be realistic about your future, Cunningham said, and realistically, my future is not going to be in basketball. It's most likely going to be in accounting '85 I am just going to use this time to focus on my family, my younger brother and school work.

Cunningham leaves the program after entering it during quite a tumultuous time the first season following the rape allegations scandal. Cunningham was a part of the last crop of Billy Hahn recruits, but he seemed to gel well as a role player in John Giannini's game plan.

Cunningham played in every game of his freshman season, averaging nearly 31 minutes with six points per game. However, Cunningham played about 700 less minutes last season than he had in his freshman year, and continued to have problems with turnovers (149 his first year, 49 last season in a limited role). With a new, large batch of freshman talent, he scored only two points in the team's recent trip to Canada.

Coach Giannini understands the reasons behind Cunningham's decision to leave the team, and he supports his player.

I think it is a mature decision that he's made, Giannini said in the press release. We owe Tabby a debt of gratitude for his contribution to the program.

bagnia1@lasalle.edu