STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University guard Craig Sword was arrested last weekend for misdemeanor possession of a BB gun on a educational property.
The freshman guard, who was on campus for the second semester of summer school, was arrested by university police after the BB gun was found in his dorm room.
“I am aware of the situation involving Craig bringing a BB gun into the dorm, which is a misdemeanor,” MSU men’s basketball coach Rick Ray said Wednesday in a university statement.
The violation doesn’t fall under the definition of a carrying a firearm under university policy. Ray said MSU will handle Sword’s punishment in house before the start of the 2012-13 season.
“Craig did not point it at anyone or towards anyone,” Ray said. “Craig realizes the severity of his actions, is extremely remorseful, and fully understands he must be held accountable. There will be disciplinary action carried out once I have all the facts and details.”
Former MSU men’s basketball coach Rick Stansbury signed Sword, who opted to stay with the Bulldogs when Ray was named the new coach of the program.
Sword was the Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year in the state of Alabama. The 6-foot-3 guard led Montgomery Carver High School to a 29-3 record and the Class 6A state championship last season. A two-time returning First Team All-State selection as named by the Alabama Sports Writers Association, Sword averaged 17 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, five steals, and four blocked shots per game as a senior.
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