The Virginia Tech basketball career of Marquie Cooke, the Hokies' most celebrated in-state recruit in 20 years, came to a premature close Monday when coach Seth Greenberg dismissed Cooke from his team.

Cooke, chosen Mr. Basketball in Virginia by The Roanoke Times after his senior year at Nansemond River High School in 2004, averaged 3.6 points as the Hokies' sixth man this season.

"Marquie failed to abide by a set of standards we set for our basketball team," Greenberg said in a statement released by the school. "We wish Marquie well in the future."

Cooke's future had been a topic of speculation since Tech announced March14, on the eve of a first-round NIT game with Temple, that Cooke was taking a leave of absence for the remainder of the season.

However, in an April13 interview dealing with his recruiting plans, Greenberg said he did not anticipate any of his underclassmen leaving.

"I wasn't fooling anybody," Greenberg said in a phone interview after the release of his prepared statement. "The kid was doing well. Up till a week ago, he was in great shape."

Cooke played in 27 of Tech's 30 games, primarily as a reserve to sophomore point guard Zabian Dowdell.

"I don't think it has any effect on our team whatsoever," said Greenberg, who directed the Hokies to a 16-14 record this season. "I like our basketball team."

Jamon Gordon started alongside classmate Dowdell in the backcourt and frequently assumed ball-handling duties. Markus Sailes, who was redshirted this past season while rehabilitating an injured knee, also has experience at the point.

"I think [rising sophomore] Wynton Witherspoon is ready for a breakout season and Shawn Harris is in the best shape of his life," Greenberg said. "I think our guard play is going to be good.

"We've got Carlos Dixon's minutes to fill, too. You're talking about almost 50 minutes per game [between Dixon and Cooke] sitting out there for someone. Zabian's our point guard, but Markus Sailes can play there, as well as Jamon. We're going to do it by committee."

In Cooke, however, the Hokies are losing a player whom Greenberg targeted from the day he was named coach in April 2003. Before Cooke, the last Mr. Basketball to sign with the Hokies was Dell Curry in 1982.

"Every time you recruit a young man, you hope it works out and sometimes it doesn't," Greenberg said. "We're disappointed. We genuinely care about the kids and we want it to work out, but that's part of the culture of our game.

"This is all part of the process of our business today."

Greenberg said he could not say what Cooke's next step will be, and Cooke could not be reached for comment.