Tar Heels coach Roy Williams said he informed Curry and his family of the school's decision Wednesday evening.

"We hope JamesOn will be successful with continuing his education and his basketball," Williams said in a statement.

Curry's home telephone number was steadily busy.

A standout guard for Eastern Alamance High School, Curry pleaded guilty Monday to six felony counts: two each of possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana; two each of the sale of marijuana and two each of delivering marijuana.

He was sentenced to 36 months of probation; various fines, including $600 for lab fees to test the marijuana; $200 in court costs and 200 hours of community service.

Curry was kicked off his high school team shortly after his arrest in February. He was one of 49 students arrested that month after a systemwide undercover drug investigation by the Alamance County Sheriff's Office and the Alamance-Burlington schools. The operation was aimed at dealers and distributors, authorities said.

Curry committed to North Carolina last summer.