Bulldogs suspend Heytvelt
Two Gonzaga University men’s basketball players, including starting sophomore forward and rebounding leader Josh Heytvelt, have been suspended indefinitely after being arrested on drug possession charges late Friday in Cheney.
The suspensions handed down to Heytvelt and freshman forward Theo Davis, both 21, were announced by GU officials during a hastily called news conference Saturday afternoon, just hours before the Bulldogs were to tip it off against West Coast Conference rival Saint Mary’s in the McCarthey Athletic Center.
As first reported on spokesmanreview.com, Coach Mark Few appeared only briefly at the news conference and issued a terse statement before excusing himself, without taking questions, to prepare for the upcoming game.
“I am shocked and disappointed,” Few said. “We regret the far-reaching effect this has on our program and university.”
According to a spokesperson for the Cheney Police Department, Heytvelt and Davis, who is redshirting because of a shoulder injury, were charged with possession of marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms following a routine traffic stop for a defective taillight at 11:42 p.m. The marijuana charge, because of the amount, police explained, was a misdemeanor, but possession of hallucinogenic mushrooms is a felony.
Police Commander Rick Campbell said Heytvelt, a former prep standout at Clarkston High School and the Bulldogs’ second-leading scorer, was driving a gold-colored Chevy Trailblazer when the vehicle was pulled over at First Street and Simpson Parkway. Davis, from Brampton, Ontario, was a passenger, according to police.
“The officer smelled drugs,” Campbell said, adding that police found “a small amount” of marijuana along with the mushrooms. Campbell declined to specify the amount. He said both men were cooperative with officers when they were later booked into the Spokane County Jail.
Both were released early Saturday afternoon on their own recognizance after appearing before Commissioner James M. Triplet, who reviews weekend cases for the jail.
The suspensions, according to GU Athletic Director Mike Roth, who presided over Saturday’s press conference, were the result of violations of team policy. But Roth refused to specify what policy was violated.
The suspensions apply only to basketball, and both players remain in school and eligible to attend classes. Under university policy, they will meet with Student Life representatives at the earliest opportunity – possibly Monday. But a university spokesperson said the school will take no further disciplinary action until the legal system runs its course.
According to Roth, Few met with both players and explained the school’s decision shortly after they were released from jail.
“This is not something we’ve dealt with (before), to be quite honest with you,” Roth said. “We are shocked and disappointed to be in this situation, but at the same time we want to be sure we do what Gonzaga does – that is to do things right and not just run off and make a quick decision based on limited information.”
The two players, according to Roth, have both obtained their own legal counsel, independent of the university.
“We don’t have a tremendous amount of information right now, and until we gather all that information … we’re not making a commitment to what happens beyond right now,” Roth added.
“We take these allegations very seriously,” the Rev. Robert Spitzer, S.J., Gonzaga president, said in a written statement released by the university. “We will follow up by applying the same rules and procedures that would be applied to any other student.”
The suspensions come at a time when the post-season outlook for GU’s basketball team is still vastly unclear. Following Saturday’s game against Saint Mary’s, the Zags will take on WCC co-leader Santa Clara on Monday night.
The absence of Heytvelt, who is averaging 15.5 points and 7.7 rebounds, could have a dramatic impact on the Bulldogs’ late-season fortunes – a fact that has not gone unnoticed by university officials.
But Roth insisted the team will continue to represent the university well.
“The rest of the team will rally around them,” he explained. “And the university will rally around them as well.”
Students and fans at Saturday’s game reacted to the arrests with the shock and dismay that generally come when trouble strikes their favorite team.
But for some, the incident is particularly troubling because nothing like it has happened in the program’s history.
“We always were the Cinderella team – the good team – and then this happens,” said Gonzaga freshman Michael Stefani.
Stefani and his friend Razvan Popa, 18, also a freshman, worry about the rest of the season but hope other players will step up.
“It just puts a huge pressure on the rest of the team,” Popa said as he headed into the arena.
“I’m torn between feeling for the team and feeling for the individual,” said Bill Camarda, 39, of Spokane. “I mean (20 years old), making a mistake like that? … It’s kind of a wake-up call for him.”
“You don’t hear about this here,” sad Gonzaga sophomore Emily Fortunate, 19. “We don’t want the stigma attached to the basketball team.”
Chuck Haney, 46, stood in front of the arena with a sign asking for a ticket. He said he learned of the arrests on the radio while driving from his home in Whitefish, Mont.
“I was hoping it wasn’t true,” he said. “It definitely won’t help them.”
Spokane attorney Rich Kuhling, a 22-year season ticket holder, said he trusts the school will deal with the situation appropriately.
“I’m not worried about the season,” he said. “I think the integrity of the team comes first.”
Gail Gibson, also a longtime season ticket holder, said it’s important that fans keep faith in the team.
“We’re just going to go in and support those other boys,” she said. “This doesn’t represent our school whatsoever – we gotta show everyone that that’s not us.”