IOWA CITY – Anthony Hubbard, the 6-5 guard/forward and junior college All-American, left the Iowa basketball team today. The 26-year-old convicted felon who spent four years in prison for robbery, said he made his decision to leave the program after being issued an orange Prime Time League jersey.
“They wanted me to play in this summer league and I was like, ‘cool,’” said Hubbard, who was a member of the Coach’s Corner/Two Rivers Bank & Trust team. “Then they give me an orange jersey with the words ‘Coach’s Corner’ on it. OK, I get it. Felon in orange and I’m in the coach’s corner because I’ve been bad, know what I’m saying?”
Anthony Hubbard in his orange Prime Time League jersey (STAFF PHOTO)
“I got to thinking, this is muh-fuh bo sheet. I did my time. I ain’t wearing no orange no more for nobody.”
Hubbard recounted his years of playing basketball in prison while wearing orange.
“I did that shit for four years, playing basketball in orange,” said Hubbard. “The only reason I chose Iowa over Nebraska is because the Nebraska red is too damn close to orange. I vowed I’d never wear orange again.”
“The first day I’m in Iowa, they hand me an orange jersey.”
Hubbard said he will make a decision soon about whether he will play basketball at another school this fall. His scholarship release from Iowa is unrestricted.
He hopes to put his short time at Iowa in the past and not dwell on what might have been.
“I am gonna burn that goddamn orange jersey.”