On Wednesday, Dec. 2, Longwood Athletics announced that men’s basketball senior forward Shaquille Johnson will return to the team and participate in competition, beginning with the Dec. 12 game at the University of Richmond. Senior forward Jason Pimentel is no longer a member of the team.
Both players were indefinitely suspended on Oct. 9 after "having not met the standards Longwood expects," according to a Longwood athletics’ release that day.
According to Prince Edward County General District Court Records, the Farmville police department charged the former teammates with allegedly violating Va. Code 18.2-250.1, the unlawful possession of marijuana, on Oct. 6. Today’s announcement was made eight days after Pimentel and Johnson’s initial hearings on Nov. 23 about their misdemeanor marijuana charges from this incident.
In the Nov. 23 hearings, their next court date was set for 9:00 a.m. on Jan. 4.
The Rotunda requested the release of the police report from the Oct. 6 incident, but was denied by Farmville Chief of Police Curtis Davis. Davis cited concerns the details of the police report could impact the legal process.
Related Article: Johnson, Pimentel potentially face drug charges in and out of school
Johnson’s suspension will cover 10 total games, including the games missed while he was indefinitely suspended from all team activity.
“Shaquille has met the benchmarks head coach Jayson Gee and I set for him to be able to return to the team,” said Austin in yesterday's statement.
The Longwood athletics department did not comment specifically on the benchmarks set for Johnson or how the decisions regarding either student-athlete were made.
“We will not have further comment on that other than to say that the offenses that triggered Shaquille and Jason’s suspensions and the ensuing processes were treated as separate instances by the athletics department and the university,” said Chris Cook, Longwood’s assistant vice president for athletics communications.
Cook stated Johnson is currently eligible to participate in all team-related activity, aside from competition, until he returns to the floor on Dec. 12.
According to Cook, the Longwood Student-Athlete Handbook provides the guidelines used for “the consequences a student-athlete may face if found in violation of various offenses.”
“Consequences may include missed competition,” said Cook.
According to the 2015-16 Longwood Student-Athlete Handbook hosted on the Longwood athletics official website, “any student-athlete who is arrested, charged, and/or convicted of a misdemeanor charge… will be subject to a review process by the head coach and sport supervisor.”
The specific steps of the review process are not listed. The handbook requires head coaches to discuss “proposed disciplinary action” with their sport’s supervisor, an assigned athletics administrator, prior to action.
According to Cook, Austin is the men’s basketball sports supervisor.
“Ultimately, any athletics-related punishment that affects competition time is decided upon by each program’s sport supervisor and/or the athletics director,” said Cook.
In Wednesday’s press release, Austin stated, “Longwood athletics department policies are among the strictest in our conference and the Commonwealth when it comes to student-athlete accountability. Following those policies and guidelines, and considering Shaquille’s response to his initial suspension, we determined that a 10-game suspension is appropriate.”
A 10-game suspension amounts to missing nearly a third of the 31 games currently scheduled on the Longwood athletics official website.
According to the Student-Athlete Handbook, if the department has “reasonable suspicion” of substance abuse, then a student-athlete can be tested outside of the usual annual drug testing conducted by the athletics department.
If a student-athlete tests positive on one of these drug tests, first-time offenders will face “suspension from competition during championship season including preseason and postseason for a time period of 33 percent of the team’s season – to begin immediately.” This excludes practice.
Longwood athletics has not connected the team-issued suspension of either player to the possession of marijuana charges on Oct. 6.
“We will not comment on the actual offense, just as we have not since we initially announced the suspension. Shaquille and Jason were initially suspended for conduct unbecoming of a student-athlete,” said Cook.
Johnson will wear his uniform for the first time this season for Longwood’s away game against University of Richmond. This will be the team’s first televised game of the season. It will broadcast live on Richmond’s CBS affiliate, WTVR.
In his debut Longwood season, Johnson was named to the Big South All-Tournament team after posting two double-doubles in the postseason. Overall, he averaged 13.6 points and 5.6 rebounds last season.
*CORRECTION: 10/3/2015 8:40 a.m. - Article headline previously stated Jason Pimentel was "removed" from the team. The Dec. 2 Longwood athletics press release stated he "will not return" and has been adjusted to reflect that statement. The Rotunda is seeking further clarification.
Va. Code 18.2-250.1
Defined: "A. It is unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to possess marijuana unless the substance was obtained directly from, or pursuant to, a valid prescription or order of a practitioner while acting in the course of his professional practice, or except as otherwise authorized by the Drug Control Act."
Punishment: "Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be confined in jail not more than 30 days and fined not more than $500, either or both; any person, upon a second or subsequent conviction of a violation of this section, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor."
- Oct. 6 - Shaquille Johnson and Jason Pimentel charged with unlawful possession of marijuana by the Farmville Police Departement, who responded to a noise complaint then obtained search warrant.
- Oct. 9 - Longwood athletics released statement suspending Johnson and Pimentel indefinitely from all team-related activity. Austin said they hadn't "met the standards Longwood expects from its student-athletes."
- Nov. 23 - Both student-athletes have their initial hearings in the Prince Edward General District Court. Their next court date was assigned.
- Dec. 2 - The athletics department announces that Johnson will serve his 10-game suspension. Pimentel will not return to the team and is no longer on the roster.
- Dec. 12 - Johnson's first game back for the Lancers at the University of Richmond. The game will broadcast live on Richmond's CBS affiliate, WTRV
- Jan. 4 - Johnson and Pimentel have second court date set for 9:00 a.m.
“Longwood athletics department policies are among the strictest in our conference and the Commonwealth when it comes to student-athlete accountability."
Senior forward Shaquille Johnson (left) will serve a 10-game suspension and reappear in competition on Dec. 12. Former senior forward Jason Pimentel (right) has been removed from the men's basketball team.
