Morehouse College cancels basketball tournament with Kanye West's Donda Academy

The future of the elite prep basketball team from Donda Academy, the private school started by Kanye West, remains at best unclear after yet another rebuke and canceled game.

Morehouse College on Monday distanced itself from Ye when it announced a tournament it planned to host Sunday featuring a game between Donda Academy and The Skills Factory has been canceled.

It marked the latest fallout since the antisemitic remarks made by the rapper now known as Ye, who was expected to attend the game. Ye also falsely claimed earlier this month that George Floyd Floyd’s death was fentanyl-related even though Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering Floyd by pinning down Floyd’s neck with his knee.

“Throughout its history, Morehouse College, perhaps more than any other institution, has stood for social discourse which advances equity and healing, particularly in areas involving race, culture, and socio-economic disparities," the HBCU school said in a statement. “We therefore cannot condone, in perception or implication, the recent divisive and unproductive statements by Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.''

Ye had posted about the "homecoming" event on his Instagram page Sunday.

Last week, four major tournaments disinvited Donda Academy, and the school was replaced from its scheduled season opener Nov. 3.

The contradictory reports of whether Donda Academy has closed for the rest of the school year become less ambiguous with a trip to the school in Simi Valley, California.

Set back off a four-lane road, across the street from an equestrian center, Donda Academy looks abandoned.

There is no “Donda Academy’’ signage. In fact, on Monday, the only sign at the school was posted on the locked front gate.

It read: “Private Property. No trespassing.’’

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On a campus with more than a half-dozen bungalows, there was no sign of students, teachers or members of the elite prep basketball team. Yet, unlike the school, the basketball team has yet to shut down – despite being disinvited last week by four tournaments during the ongoing fallout over West’s antisemitic comments.

About 15 minutes away, members of the basketball team were working out at Sports Academy, previously owned by Kobe Bryant and named Mamba Academy before Bryant’s death in 2020. But it's still unclear if and when the season will start for the Donda Doves.

A USA Today reporter on Monday was stopped at the front desk of the Sports Academy in Newbury Park, California. She said she would contact Dorell Wright, the head basketball coach at Donda Academy.

A few minutes later, she returned and said, “Coach Wright is unavailable.’’

Might he be available later?

She shook her head and smiled.

Wright has not replied to repeated messages from USA TODAY Sports seeking comment.

Kimberly Hicks, the mother of Donda Academy starting forward Justin Johnson said Wright has told her the team intends to play this season. But there are complications for the Donda Doves.

They were scheduled to open the season Nov. 3 against Minnesota Preparatory Academy at the Minnesota Shorty Classic. But Lucas Patterson, head coach at Minnesota Preparatory Academy, said on Saturday Donda Academy has been replaced because it could not fulfill obligations such as a confirmed date of arrival.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Morehouse College cancels tournament with Kaye West's Donda Academy