LEADING SCORER DOWNEY CHARGED WITH ON-CAMPUS ASSAULT

For the University of South Carolina’s athletics program, the off-the-field legal problems have just been extended to the basketball court.

News has just broken that Devan Downey, the sophomore who led the Gamecocks in scoring last year, was arrested Monday on a simple assault charge.

We spoke with USC spokesman Russ McKinney, who said early last week around lunchtime Downey and another USC student got into an argument at the Russell House on campus.

McKinney described the incident as “very minor.” Campus police investigated, and at the time, the student decided they didn’t want to press charges against Downey.

That student changed their mind Monday, and Downey found himself at Richland County’s Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. [WIS]

Unlock the football players arrested, Downey is a major star. He’s easily USC’s best player and one of the best in the Southeastern Conference. To call this “big” is an understatement.

Sure, Stephen Garcia’s arrest was a big deal. But Garcia has yet to prove he’s a stud, while Downey has. And Garcia was caught drinking, Downey is charged with assault.