BYU basketball star Kennard Davis Jr has been arrested by police in Provo, Utah under suspicion of driving under the influence after a car crash involving another vehicle.
Davis was arrested just before noon on Thursday. According to Provo police, he was transported to the police station and charged. He was also treated for ‘minor’ injuries and had his vehicle impounded.
A public information officer for the department told ESPN that the ‘other party’ in the wreck did not suffer any severe injuries.
The crash came just before No. 7 BYU travels to Boston to play No. 3 UConn on Saturday.
In a statement, BYU said on Friday, ‘We are aware of the allegations and looking into the situation.’
While the legal issues are a concern, Davis’ career at BYU may now be in jeopardy due to the school’s strict Honor Code.
BYU basketball star Kennard Davis Jr has been charged with DUI in Provo, Utah
If the allegations prove true, then Davis may face strict punishment from BYU over a violation of their ‘Honor Code’ – demanding, among other things, abstinence from alcohol and drugs
BYU is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormon Church) and imposes a morality code that it requires all students to follow – regardless of their affiliation with the church.
Included in the Honor Code is a passage saying each student must make ‘a personal commitment to abstain, both on and off campus, from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, vaping, and substance abuse.’
Among the penalties for those who violate the code includes ‘dismissal from the university or termination of employment.’
The school has recently gone to this length for a star athlete. Earlier this year, BYU was set to impose a seven-game suspension for star quarterback and preseason Heisman hopeful Jake Retzlaff.
Retzlaff, who is Jewish, was accused of rape. His attorneys say he denied the allegations, he was not criminally charged, and the civil lawsuit against him was dismissed.
However, in his response to the suit, he admitted to having consensual sex with his accuser. By this admission, he violated a tenant of the Honor Code where students are required to ‘live a chaste and virtuous life, including abstaining from any sexual relations outside a marriage between a man and a woman.’
Due to that admission, BYU instituted the suspension. In response, Retzlaff left the school and transferred to Tulane.
Earlier this year, Jake Retzlaff left BYU as he faced suspension due to an Honor Code violation
A similar instance happened with the BYU basketball team in the 2010-11 season with forward Brandon Davies, who would go on to play for the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets.
In the middle of the season, Davies was suspended for an Honor Code violation after he had premarital sex with his girlfriend.
At the time, BYU was ranked No. 3 in the country and Davies was the team’s top rebounder and third leading scorer. However, despite not committing a criminal act or violating an NCAA rule, the school saw it fit to suspend him the rest of the season.
He sat on the bench and watched as BYU lost in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game. The Cougars then earned a three-seed in the NCAA Tournament and fell in overtime to Florida in the Sweet 16. Davies was reinstated the following season.
Davis transferred to the school this offseason after averaging 16.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists for Southern Illinois last year.
