|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
'Protect the program first' Smith aware of Kentucky's image after recruit's arrest
Posted: Friday May 12, 2000 09:12 PM
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- A Kentucky basketball recruit may have his scholarship revoked following his arrest in a possible drug case, coach Tubby Smith said Friday. Michael Southall, a 6-foot-10, 225-pound center from West Salem (Wis.) High School, was one of six people arrested by West Salem and La Crosse County, Wis., police Wednesday night in connection with a drug investigation. No specific charges had been filed as of Friday afternoon, said Todd Bjerke, assistant district attorney for La Crosse County. Bjerke said the matter involved drugs and that evidence included a videotape showing Southall and other teens at a party where drugs and cash were being packaged. The arrest was first reported by the La Crosse Tribune. Southall was released on bond and is scheduled to appear in court in Wisconsin on May 19. Smith said Southall might face consequences at Kentucky. "At this time, I'm not prepared to say what those consequences are here at Kentucky, but he stands to lose his scholarship based on the outcome of his legal problems," Smith said during a press conference originally scheduled to talk about this year's crop of spring signees. Southall averaged 20.7 points, 13 rebounds and 6.7 blocked shots a game last season. "We thought he'd be a big help to us next year, adding some depth to the frontcourt. We needed another big man to step up and help out inside." Smith said he believes Southall is a decent young man who made a mistake. "I talked to Michael and his family [Thursday] night," he said. "He's very remorseful, very scared, very apologetic. He apologized for letting us all down." The arrest comes less than three months after veteran swingman Desmond Allison was dismissed from the team after his arrest on drunken driving charges. According to the school's alcohol policy for athletes, Allison would be suspended indefinitely and his scholarship pulled if convicted of the charges. Smith said it was his job to make sure the two incidents did not taint the program. "I'm concerned about the image of this program," he said. "A mistake is one thing. But if it is determined that other things were involved, that puts [Southall] in a different light and puts the program in a different light. Doing drugs, drinking ... there's no place for it and we're not going to tolerate it. "We've had some problems over the last couple years. I'm at a point now where I have to look at things a little bit differently. You want to do all you can to protect a young man, but I've got to protect the program first."
| ||||||||||||||||
