Sophomore forward Yusuf Baker, the Bulls' top recruit a year ago, has been dismissed from the South Florida basketball program.

"Yusuf’s approach toward academics fell short of the standards and expectations of both our basketball program and of USF,” Bulls head coach Robert McCullum said. "His actions were not indicative of a desire to be a part of our basketball program. We appreciate his contributions to the USF basketball program over the past year and wish him well in his future endeavors."

Baker would have been a sophomore in the upcoming 2003-04 season. The forward from Orlando’s Evans High School started the final 17 games of his freshman season. He averaged 4.9 points and 4.8 rebounds overall, led the team in scoring twice, in rebounding six times and had three double-doubles.

Baker, who was indefinitely suspended on May 28, has been granted a release to speak to other institutions regarding a possible transfer.

Known primarily for his prowess as a rebounder, Baker paced the Bulls in that category six times, including double-digit efforts against Memphis (12), TCU (11) and Alcorn State (10). He also led USF in scoring twice, with a career-high 16 points in a win over Tulane at the Sun Dome late in the season.

A Top 100 player nationally as a high school senior, Baker came to USF widely regarded as the second best prep big man in Florida behind only NBA rookie all-star Amare Stoudemire. Baker was a first team all-state performer, averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds as a senior at Evans High (the same school that produced former USF and current Detroit Pistons star Chucky Atkins). He wrapped up his prep career by being honored as the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year.

Despite tearing the ACL in his right knee while playing in the Kentucky Derby High School All-Star Classic in Louisville in April 2002, Baker responded well enough to have an immediate impact for the Bulls.

Baker's dismissal marks the second straight season the Bulls' top returning sophomore prospect will not be rostered. Forward Kelvin Brown (Fort Lauderdale Dillard) played as a freshman in 2001-02 but was dismissed before his second campaign. After one season at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, Brown has transferred to Murray State.

"I am elated to add Frank to our staff," said McCullum. "I feel strongly that he will add much to our program in terms of experience, knowledge and familiarity from a recruiting standpoint. His relationships with high school and junior college coaches throughout the Southeast, as well as in the Midwest, will be important to our future success."

Burnell compiled a 213-101 record at Daytona Beach. His teams won four Mid-Florida Conference regular-season titles, a pair of Mid-Florida Tournament titles and a Florida Community College Activities Association state championship. He was named Mid-Florida Conference Coach of the Year in 1999, 2001 and 2002, as well as the NJCAA District 8 Coach of the Year in 1999.

"I am elated to be here," Burnell said. "I am looking forward to working on coach McCullum’s staff and to be working in Conference USA. I was an assistant at the Division I level and then I had the opportunity to be a head coach at Daytona Beach. Coming back to be an assistant at this level is an opportunity that was too good for me to pass up."

Burnell, 42, spent seven seasons — from 1986-87 through 1992-93 — as an assistant at Stetson University.

A native of Jacksonville, Burnell is a graduate of Stetson, earning his bachelor’s of arts degree in business administration in 1985. He was a four-year letterman for the Hatters, captained the team his senior season in 1982-83 and was the team’s MVP as a junior and a senior. Burnell scored 1,491 points (14.1 ppg) over his career, which ranks No. 6 on Stetson’s all-time scoring list. He scored 556 points as a senior (19.9 ppg), which ranks No. 7 on Stetson’s all-time single-season list. He retired No. 4 on both scoring lists.

Burnell played professionally two seasons (1983-84 and 1984-85) in the Continental Basketball Association with the Puerto Rico Coquis.

McCullum's first USF staff is now complete, with assistants Burnell, Steve Henson and Tommy Deffebaugh, and director of basketball operations Scott Thompson.