Basketball Player Suspended for DWI

By Chris Monahan

When the Stony Brook Men’s basketball team brought 6’10”, 285-pound center Desmond Adedeji over from the University of Dayton, this was not what they envisioned for the start of his career.

This past Sunday morning, 21-year-old Adedeji was pulled over on the campus’s South Drive and charged with driving while intoxicated. Adedeji will serve a six game suspension, according to a press release from head coach Steve Pikiell.

"Desmond recognizes that he was wrong; he is extremely remorseful, respects the legal process and accepts the consequences of his actions," said Pikiell.

The incident provides an inauspicious beginning to what is supposed to be a season of redemption for the Seawolves, who are coming off a disappointing 7-23 record last year.

Adedeji, who was expected to start at center, can now only watch the team’s first six games. The case will now be referred to and reviewed by the Office of Student Affairs.

Pikiell added that the suspension was in compliance with the student-athlete code of conduct. While suspensions like this one are not uncommon, it is unlike that of Binghamton University, which immediately suspends a player from the athletic program and the student must apply for reinstatement, a much harsher penalty. It reads: If any student-athlete is arrested on or off campus, that student athlete is immediately suspended from the athletic program. In the case of arrests or hazing incidents, the student-athlete can make a formal request for reinstatement after legal matters have been resolved.

This Friday at 7 p.m., the Seawolves open their season at home against Maryland Eastern Shore.