Illinois' Smith faces probation violation charge

Junior shooting guard Jamar Smith will make an impact on Illinois' upcoming season.

It just might not be the positive one Illini coaches and fans so eagerly expected.

After sitting out last season following his aggravated DUI conviction for the Feb. 12, 2007, one-car accident that left teammate Brian Carlwell in critical condition, Smith focused on improving his skills in practice while fulfilling multiple conditions for his return to the team.

That return is in doubt after Champaign County state's attorney Julia Reitz issued an arrest warrant for Smith on Tuesday morning for violating his probation.

Smith turned himself in at the Champaign County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday afternoon, plunked down $2,500 and was released on bond.

"While we continue to gather information, we have been in touch with Jamar and his family," Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther said in a statement. "We are taking this situation very seriously."

Smith, who was given two years of probation as part of his plea bargain on May 24, 2007, was accused of violating his probation following an incident early Friday.

Per a news release from the Champaign Police Department:

"At approximately 2:30 a.m., Champaign police officers were dispatched to the 300 block of East Green Street for a report of criminal damage to a local business. Moments later, officers reported a verbal altercation occurring at the intersection of Fourth and Green Streets, where 21-year-old Jamar Smith was located amongst a crowd of people."

According to the report, Smith, who lives two blocks from Fourth and Green, and the others were ordered several times to leave the area.

"While being warned by the officer a third time," the report said, "police noticed a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from Jamar Smith. The officer recalled his probationary status ordering him to refrain from the use of alcohol."

The officer wrote a report that led to the state's attorney's charge and Smith's appearance at the sheriff's office. He is supposed to appear at the Champaign County courthouse at 1:30 p.m. today in Urbana.

While a judge will sort out Smith's legal status, Guenther and basketball coach Bruce Weber will soon have to hand down verdicts of their own.

"As his coach and someone who cares very much about him," Weber said in a statement, "I am disappointed that he would put himself into a compromising position, especially after the commitment he's shown over the last year in his effort to return to our program."

The Illini have been counting on Smith's superb shooting eye to revive a team that posted a 16-19 record last year - in no small part because Illinois ranked among the nation's bottom 20 percent of teams in scoring (63.6 ppg), 3-point percentage (.319) and free-throw percentage (.608).

"Once we have gathered all of the pertinent information," Guenther said, "we will be able to provide additional comment."