Former Effingham County High School basketball star Jakeenan Gant has been suspended indefinitely by University of Missouri basketball coach Kim Anderson after being arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault early Sunday morning in Columbia, Mo.
Gant, 18, was arrested along with teammate D’Angelo Allen, who was also suspended from the team, and another man, according to a report from the Columbia Police Department.
The report says that officers were dispatched to the area of Eighth and Elm streets at 1:34 a.m. Sunday morning. Three male victims reported they were “jumped” by three to four males. One victim, 20, said he was struck two or three times while trying to assist his friend who was on the ground being assaulted. The second victim, also 20, said he was walking with two friends when the assault occurred. The third, 21, said he was “jumped” and the assault continued when he was on the ground.
The report said that Gant’s wallet was left at the scene. University of Missouri Police officers then stopped three males matching the description of the assailants on the 400 block of Kentucky Avenue, and one of the men was Gant. The witnesses identified the three men as the suspects who allegedly had assaulted them, according to the report.
Gant was arrested for third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, and released on a signature summons, as well as fellow freshman Allen and the third suspect, the report said.
Anderson, who was hired to lead the program in April, released a statement Tuesday night.
“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,” Anderson said in the release. “We have high standards for the conduct of our student-athletes and expect much more from them as members of our program.”
The 6-foot-8 Gant was the Savannah Morning News Player of the Year last season and was named Mr. Basketball for the state of Georgia after averaging 21 points, 10.5 rebounds and four blocks a game. In April, Gant left Effingham County and enrolled in School of the Osage in Lake Ozark, Mo., where he finished his senior year.
Gant and his mother could not be reached for comment.