Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Two Missouri freshmen suspended after arrest (UPDATED)

Kim Anderson

New Missouri men’s basketball coach Kim Anderson speaks after he was introduced at an NCAA college basketball news conference in the Reynolds Alumni Center on Tuesday, April 29, 2014, in Colubia, Mo. (AP Photo/Columbia Daily Tribune, Ryan Henriksen)

AP

Missouri will be without a pair of freshmen as big man Jakeenan Gant and small forward D’Angelo Allen were arrested early Sunday morning on suspicion of third-degree assault, according to the Columbia Police Department. Both freshmen have been suspended by head coach Kim Anderson, according to a statement.

A third man, Michael James Martin, was also arrested as police responded after hearing of an assault at approximately 2 a.m. on Sunday at 404 Kenucky Blvd. on the Missouri campus.

A story from Steve Walentik of the Columbia Daily Tribune said that the three are facing a misdemeanor. Allen and Gant, both 18, were later released after being issued summonses.

“We are aware of the situation involving Jakeenan Gant and D’Angelo Allen and have suspended them from team-related activities as we gather more information,” Missouri head coach Kim Anderson said in a statement. “We have high standards for the conduct of our student-athletes and expect much more from them as members of our program.”

According to a police report obtained by the Kansas City Star, the two players and Martin jumped three victims:

Columbia Police were dispatched to Eighth and Elm in reference to a disturbance and found three victims, who had been “walking east on Elm when they were jumped by three to four black males,” according to the police report.

One male victim, 20, reported being hit two or three times as he tried to help a friend, who was on the ground being assaulted by the suspects.

Another male victim, 20, reported that he was assaulted while walking and saw one of the suspects drop his wallet.

The third male victim, 21, also reported being assaulted on the ground.


Sources have told NBCSports that the nature of the altercation is not being portrayed correctly.

Third-degree assault is a Class A misdemeanor and people can be charged for attempting to cause or recklessly causing physical injury. Threatening another individual and making them apprehensive about physical injury can also lead to charges.

Those found guilty may face up to one year in jail or a fine up to $1,000 or both.

The 6-foot-8 Gant was regarded as a four-star forward while the 6-foot-6 Allen was a three-star small forward coming out of high school. Both freshmen will now be behind the other first-year players the program brought in and it could affect their playing time early in the year.

Follow @phillipshoops