| Photo: Fred Beckham/AP |
| Basketball star Jamal Coombs-McDaniels of the national champion UConn Huskies was arrested Thursday night for marijuana possession |
Seems it’s time to go through the old routine again. You know — the one where mainstream sports commentators express “surprise” and “disappointment.” Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, a star on the University of Connecticut’s national championship basketball team, has been arrested for marijuana possession.
When will they get it? Athletes, like people in every other walk of life, choose to use marijuana — and life goes on.
Campus police say the sophomore from Dorchester, Massachusetts was arrested at 10:23 Thursday night along with two other people at Merritt Hall, a UConn campus dormitory, reports Pat Eaton-Robb of The Associated Press.
Officers responded to Hilltop Apartments for a “narcotics complaint,” reports Brian Zahn of The Daily Campus, an independent UConn newspaper.
“During the course of the investigation, officers found Jamal Coombs-McDaniel and two other individuals in possession of 5.6 grams of marijuana, a marijuana grinder and a package of cigars used to smoke marijuana,” the police report drily noted.
Coombs-McDaniel was charged with marijuana possession and drug paraphernalia possession. He was released on a $500 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court on May 5. Also arrested were Shakwaan Simpkins and Stanley Winn, both 19 and both of Boston.
The 6-foot, 7-inch Huskies basketball star was one of 11 people arrested at UConn during the first night of Spring Weekend, an annual weekend of campus parties before final exams. Eight were arrested by UConn campus police, and state troopers arrested three others. The charges ranged from marijuana and alcohol offenses to weapons violations.
Coombs-McDaniel played in all 41 of UConn’s games during its national championship season, and started twice, averaging 5.6 points and 2.7 rebounds.
He is a favorite among the UConn student section, which breaks into a chanted chorus of “Coombs! Coombs!” whenever he scores.
“We are aware of the arrest of Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, but beyond that have no further comment at this time,” said Kyle Muncy, a spokesman for the basketball program.
