RB Jaamal Berry (official thread)

[berryfan]

As you know, I'm probably his biggest fan on this site, having watched him play over the years down here.

It makes me sad to add this article from the Miami Herald as an update.

Miami-Dade football recruit charged with marijuana possession - Breaking News - MiamiHerald.com

Dade football recruit charged with marijuana possession

By DAVID QUINONES

dquinones@MiamiHerald.com

Former Palmetto High School running back and Ohio State recruit Jaamal Berry was arrested and charged with possession of more than than 28 grams of marijuana on Thursday.

Police stopped Berry around midnight for running a stoplight in a silver Nissan Altima near the intersection of Southwest 120th Street and SW 117th Avenue. Officers noticed a bag of marijuana in the prep star's backseat, according a Miami-Dade Police Department report. The report said the bag contained about 28 grams of marijuana.

The report said Berry told police he had purchased the drugs an hour earlier and had planned to smoke them with friends. He was arrested and taken to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where he was later released on an undisclosed bond. Charges are pending, and no court date had been scheduled as of Thursday night.

Berry, who led the Panthers in rushing in 2008 in spite of an injury-plagued campaign, is an ESPNU Top 150 recruit. The Miami Herald rated Berry the second best back in Miami-Dade County behind Killian star and UM signee Lamar Miller. Berry was the Herald's third-rated prospect overall in Miami-Dade.

Possession of more than 28 grams of marijuana in Miami-Dade County is considered a felony and carries a penalty of up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Berry had not been assigned a public defender as of Thursday evening, according to the county's website.

While most first time offenders do not receive the maximum penalties in marijuana possession cases, a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report shows that Berry, 18, was also arrested and charged with ''loitering or prowling'' on Dec. 23, 2006. No further information is available regarding that case, as Berry was a juvenile at the time. It is also unknown if that case will have any impact on the prosecution of Thursday's drug charge. ''I'm just going to continue supporting him and help him get through this situation and move through the process,'' said Palmetto coach Larry Coffey, who declined to comment further.

A call to Berry's cellphone was not returned on Thursday.

Ohio State University declined to comment on the arrest, pending the results of further investigation.

[craigblitz]

The obligatory I hope the kid post(s):
- Learns from this mistake
- Realizes the gifts he has and stops squandering his opportunities
- Can turn around like Troy did
- Accepts his time in the doghouse and becomes a better man because of it
- Can put this behind him and but football and school work first
- Realizes that he is now under a microscope and just because all the other kids do it doesn't mean he can
- Realizes playing at Ohio State or any University is a privilege

I hope that covers it. Fact is who knows if any of the kids who get in trouble realize the above. Maybe most kids do it but just don't get caught, I really have no idea. I wish nothing but the best for the kid but no matter how much we all hope the young man realizes the above the fact is some just don't ala Eugene Clifford. Hopefully the kid can show some self discipline if he gets the opportunity to come here.

[JCOSU86]

Originally Posted by Miami Herald article

The report said Berry told police he had purchased the drugs an hour earlier and had planned to smoke them with friends.

Was that a smart thing to do?

[3074326]

Originally Posted by JCOSU86

Was that a smart thing to do?

Hopefully.

[goblue15]

Originally Posted by JCOSU86

Was that a smart thing to do?

What else was he suppose to say im going to sell it?

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by goblue15

What else was he suppose to say im going to sell it?

My suggestion would be not to ride around with over 20g of pot when you have a scholorship to a major university in your hip pocket.

[JCOSU86]

Originally Posted by goblue15

What else was he suppose to say im going to sell it?

Umm, I don't know, maybe say nothing?

"You have the right to remain silent, if you give up the right to remain silent anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law"

Just sayin'

[Best Buckeye]

I'm more disturbed by his action than by what he might get for a punishment.

[craigblitz]

I would never speak to a cop. Not as a witness as a suspect without signed immunity. Used against you.....does not say used to help you. be respectful but zip it with the police. maybe another lesson he will learn the hard way.

[goblue15]

Kids make mistakes all the time hopefully he learns from it. I also don't consider an ounce of weed alot, if we were talking about pounds then you might have a serious problem.

[NFBuck]

Well, with the Eugene Clifford saga fresh on everybody's mind, this is a very bad thing for Jaamal. I'm all for second chances, but this is a very disturbing development. How a kid with so much going for him can make such a foolish decision is beyond my comprehension.

Imagine how we'd react if an Illinois or scUM recruit did this. I'm glad I'm not in the position to have to make a decision that has such an enormous impact on this young man's future, but to me, a felony is too much. If he does still make it to Columbus, I hope to God he learns from this.

[jwinslow]

Imagine how we'd react if an Illinois or scUM recruit did this.

I don't remember people thinking Mario should be kicked off of the team.

[goblue15]

Originally Posted by NFBuck

Well, with the Eugene Clifford saga fresh on everybodies mind, this is a very bad thing for Jaamal. I'm all for second chances, but this is a very disturbing development. How a kid with so much going for him can make such a foolish decision is beyond my comprehension.

Imagine how we'd react if an Illinois or scUM recruit did this. I'm glad I'm not in the position to have to make a decision that has such an enormous impact on this young man's future, but to me, a felony is too much. If he does still make it to Columbus, I hope to God he learns from this.

He is an 18 year old kid cut him some slack. Don't act like you don't make dumb decisions when you were a teenager.

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

I don't remember people thinking Mario should be kicked off of the team.

IIRC, Mario wasn't facing felony charges. Granted, I don't know if this will end up as a felony or will be pleaded down, but if it ends up a felony...

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by goblue15

He is an 18 year old kid cut him some slack. Don't act like you don't make dumb decisions when you were a teenager.

I certainly made dumb decisions, but I wasn't on my way to a premier university on a football scholorship. Big difference there. I have a hard time sypathizing with kids that put themselves in these situations, that's all.

Great stories come from kids that turn things around after rough starts (Troy Smith being a perfect example), hopefully Jaamal takes the same path.