Latest on Victor Hampton
Just posted an update on Victor Hampton’s situation to gogamecocks.
The USC signee, who was arrested for underage drinking Friday after taking brandy to Darlington High, likely faces re-assignment to Darlington’s alternative school as a result of his arrest.
He’ll have a disciplinary hearing in the next week or two.
If he gets shipped to the Darlington County Intervention School, he can still get his diploma from Darlington High, which is critical in staying on track to be eligible.
But Hampton has other hurdles to clear: He has yet to make the necessary test score to qualify.
The legal ramifications seem pretty clear cut: The 17-year-old Hampton has a bench trial set for Wednesday in Darlington city court. He could request a jury trial, which would push things back.
Or he could plead guilty, pay a fine, surrender his license and have the matter resolved.
Steve Spurrier has yet to comment on Hampton’s situation, and likely won’t this week. USC media relations director Steve Fink said Spurrier is out of the office.
Given his history, Spurrier would likely say USC planned to wait for the legal process to play out before making any decisions.
Taken alone, the underage drinking charge would not be a deal-breaker. Yes, Hampton exercised extremely poor judgment – as he admitted in a statement released last week through his mentor/attorney – in taking liquor to school. But it is not anything too egregious.
The issue for Hampton is what appears to be a pattern of behavior. The defensive back attended three schools before enrolling at Darlington last fall – and left all of them under shaky circumstances.
Hampton has one prior arrest – a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge from 2008 he says was dropped. He says most of his problems at his other schools involved fights or a general attitude problem with respect to coaches.
He had been doing well in Darlington before Friday’s incident, according to coaches and administrators at the school. Cheveron Scott, the Darlington lawyer with whom Hampton lives, encouraged Hampton to smile more often after he moved from Charlotte last summer.
Talking to folks at USC, it seems the school will stick with Hampton, assuming he makes his test score and keeps his nose clean the rest of the school year.
17 Comments to “Latest on Victor Hampton”
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USC football beat writer Joe Person has covered the Gamecocks since the start of the 2002 season. He's been on the college football beat since 1993. 
Hey Joe, nice update. Well done.
Carolina football, don’t you just love it! This is a reality show that Hollywood could not dream up. A QB with 3 arrests on his rap sheet. One of the most promising recruits will (?) show up with 2 arrests on his rap sheet and he’s al;ready been kicked off his former HS team. Stay tuned to see who will have the next mug shot taken and hear what Dr. Eddie F. will say about the local police!!!
[...] marks than Frank Gorshin’s old Riddler costume.The State’s Joe Person believes that Carolina will ultimately stand beside Hampton and allow him to join the Gamecock team. If he gets his test scores. And if he doesn’t [...]
Garcia has straightened out. Give him credit. Honestly there does seem to be some obvious concern with this kid. Is he a “bad guy”? Maybe. OBC will sort it out…not internet warriors named Bubba.
Wonder how this kid even made the USArmy AA game.. Talent should be judged by what kids do OFF the field. I’d say “see you later” to this one.
This kid will probably wind up emploding..simply doesnt have the tools upstairs…can we look to get more copmlete recruits instead of scraping up some of the leftovers who we hope can make it.(Shaking my head)
Hes a ticking time bomb. There no way he should be allowed on campus if hes been kicked out of high school 5 times already. Character always trumps talent. No player is worth more than South Carolina’s national image.
I have more character than Lawrence Taylor, who has proven to be a total sociopath. But LT is a much better linebacker.
Give the kid a chance to go to college. If he messes up just once, kick him off the team.
Hey Bubba, be sure and let us know when Victor beats up his girlfriend and tosses her down a flight of stairs.
At some schools, I hear a player doesn’t miss so much as a single practice after criminal conduct like that.
I’m just glad he didn’t get drunk and run over and kill someone on a sea-doo at an alumn’s lake house.Maybe then nothing else would be said and it could be pushed under the rug
Bubba, has he violated code section 34-17? That’s what you need to concern yourself with
Everyone forgets one critical point. If Spurrier wants the kids bad enough, Hampton will be on the team. Spurrier has already shown that keying cars, under age drinking, possession of illegal drugs, damaging university property, possession of a gun, etc will not stop a kid from playing. Spurrier is so desperate to win at least the SEC East, just about anything will be accepted. Just glad Coach Tanner has a lot more class and backbone than the Ol’ Ball Coach.
Heck might as well put all the Gamecocks in jail for the beating they gave those tigers of yours. Woooo!
i am so glad USC will stand beside him!
GO USC …. 34-17…NOW that’s what i’m talking about! How sweet it is too.
Bubba … be a man for a change! Explain to us how this offense trumps McDaniels the woman beater. You won’t though, because there’s nothing you can say. So, just shut up!!
Hey TaterMagic84, how about when Clemsuck needs players like McDaniel? The coaches at Pickens County Community College have already shown that if you are a standout on the field, no crime committed off it will stop you from playing, or even cause you to miss a practice.
Ever heard the old saying about living in glass houses? How about the pot and the kettle?
34-17.