Incident Haunts Asu’s Frieder

Disheartened by the arrests of three freshmen basketball recruits on suspicion of assault, Arizona State men’s basketball coach Bill Frieder initially considered resigning.

But Frieder, fighting back tears at his weekly new conference, said Tuesday he quickly reconsidered because “that would be running away from my kids.”

It is the second time in five years Frieder has had to deal with legal problems involving his players.

In 1991, four Sun Devils pleaded guilty to charging more than $13,000 in telephone calls to a university credit card issued to an assistant coach. “I’m extremely dedicated to this program, and that’s why it really hurts,” Frieder said.

Tommie Prince, Rico Harris and George Gervin were arrested last Thursday on suspicion of assault and unlawful imprisonment in the alleged sexual and physical assault of a female student and another woman a day earlier.

Interim athletic director Christine Wilkinson said the 18-year-olds were informed Monday by letter they were suspended under the athletic department’s code of conduct.

Campus authorities said the players could be expelled if they are charged. The three failed to qualify academically this year.

Lannie Standridge, campus police chief, said an investigation should be completed early next week, with findings forwarded to the Maricopa County attorney’s office.

Standridge said one woman told authorities she was raped and the other was “physically mishandled” in Prince’s dormitory room.

The women, 18, told authorities the athletes threatened them with a gun, pointing it at one woman’s head and threatening to shoot her.