Latest news with #RussSmith
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Ex-Louisville star Russ Smith arrested on suspicion of DUI and reckless driving
A former college and high school basketball star at two national powerhouses is now facing a DUI charge in Louisville. Russ Smith, a 34-year-old guard playing in Italy's second division, was picked up in the early hours of Sunday morning. He has since been booked on charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving and one count for an expired registration tag, according to online records. As reported by the Louisville Courier Journal, police claim to have observed Smith making an illegal U-turn across several lanes in the city's Original Highlands neighborhood – a historic area with century-old Victorian homes and shotgun houses. An officer reported a 'strong odor of alcoholic beverages' emanating from Smith, who admitted to consuming 'two bourbon pours neat' before getting behind the wheel. The former Louisville Cardinals star and NCAA champion then failed a field sobriety test before his blood-alcohol level of 0.073 was recorded, according to the arrest citation. That is technically below Kentucky 's 0.08 blood-alcohol limit, but state law permits charges for drivers with any level above 0.04 if there is 'other competent evidence' to consider, according to the Courier Journal. Smith has since been released on bond and will be due for an arraignment hearing on Wednesday at 9am. The New York native is best known to hoops fanatics as the scrappy 6-foot Louisville guard who, along with Peyton Siva, led coach Rick Pitino's Cardinals to a national championship in 2013 – a title the school has since vacated. In 2015, it was revealed that Louisville recruits were provided strippers and escorts between 2010 and 2014. One woman later claimed she was paid $100 to have sex with Smith, then a top recruit from Queens, New York's Archbishop Molloy. Smith would later deny that claim to the Courier Journal in 2016. He was never charged for any wrongdoing in the NCAA case against Louisville, which vacated the 2013 title and other achievements as part of its punishment. He would go on to be taken by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft but never really found a home in the league.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Ex-Louisville star Russ Smith arrested for suspicion of DUI, reckless driving
Louisville Metro Police arrested a former Louisville basketball star early Sunday morning for driving under the influence of alcohol. Russ Smith, a member of the 2013 Louisville basketball team who won the NCAA Tournament that was later vacated, was stopped after police spotted him making a U-turn across multiple lanes and noticed his license plate tag had expired, the Courier Journal reported after viewing the arrest citation. Police detected a 'strong odor of alcoholic beverages' on Smith's breath when they first talked to him, and he failed a field sobriety test after he told officers that he drank 'two bourbon pours neat' before getting behind the wheel, according to the arrest citation. 3 Russ Smith was arrested early Sunday morning. Louisville Metro Corrections 3 Russ Smith looks to pass during Louisville's game in November 2012. Getty Images The Queens native 'swayed' when he stepped out of the car and failed a walk and turn test, WDRB reported. Smith had a 0.073 blood alcohol content, but in the state of Kentucky, drivers can still be prosecuted if they have a BAC of above 0.04 but below 0.08 as long as there is other evidence to support the case. 'That fact may be considered, together with other competent evidence, in determining the guilt or innocence of the defendant,' according to the statute in the state. A police spokesperson told WDRB that 'we will allow the arrest slip to speak for itself,' when asked about Smith's BAC. Smith faces charges of driving under the influence, reckless driving and having unregistered license plates. 3 Russ Smith drives to the basket during Louisville's game in March 2014. Getty Images He was released without bond and is due back in court for an arraignment hearing on June 11 at Jefferson County District Court. WDRB reported that Smith is slated to play in The Basketball Tournament this summer, a winner-take-all tournament with a $1 million prize. Smith played four years at Louisville, and he averaged 14.3 points per game. He had brief NBA stints with the Pelicans and Grizzlies, as well as some time in the G-League and overseas. Smith played his high school ball at Archbishop Molloy in Queens
Scoop
22-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Marlborough Youth Trust Farewells Their Calm ‘Anchor' Of 25 Years
Senior constable Russ Smith is stepping back from the vibrant centre and community he has helped build in Marlborough for the past 25 years. The Blenheim community constable has served as a chairman and trustee of the Marlborough Youth Trust for a quarter of a century, and was instrumental in creating the trust's MySpace youth centre. Smith was celebrated by supporters of the trust at a special farewell morning tea at MySpace on Wednesday. Sonitani Kula, youth worker for the Marlborough Pasifika Trust, which made use of the space, said there would be no Marlborough Youth Trust without Smith. 'Youth work has been a lifelong dream career of mine. 'To be able to enter it ... was only possible because there was a village that was willing to stand behind me that was led by Russ.' Members described Smith as the humble and calm 'anchor' of the trust, and a dedicated advocate for the youth of Marlborough. 'It's definitely not just me,' Smith said. 'I'm just one of the little cogs in a big, big machine. 'Without the support of our wonderful trustees, and all the work that goes into this organisation [...] it just wouldn't happen.' The MySpace centre opened in 2019 as a place for youth to meet and connect with each other. Smith, who was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2017 for his community work, described the opening of the centre as his most 'joyful' moment. 'We'd probably worked on that for at least 10 years, trying to convince [Marlborough District] Council and all the organisations that were invested in us that this was definitely something that was needed,' he said. Smith said the MySpace Youth Centre was one of the best youth spaces in the country. 'Our youth love it because it can go from a meeting space, to a play space, to a study space.' Smith planned to enjoy the 'sunset years' of his job as Community Constable, and would continue to support the trust as a friend and volunteer. The council owned the MySpace building on the corner of Kinross St and Redwood St and covered the cost of the lease for the youth trust. 'We pushed for this one for a long time, and if it wasn't for Russell it wouldn't have happened,' said former Marlborough District councillor Graeme Barsanti. 'I remember him coming to council,' Barsanti said. 'And we kind of stood around him. Two policemen and a couple of other policemen at the back were dragged in, and we made it work.'
