This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Salt Lake Tribune has learned that Utah State small forward recruit Norvell Arnold will not be an Aggie.
Arnold, a 6-6 slasher who was expected to start this season at small forward, has been released from his scholarship commitment. The Tribune has learned that past legal trouble is cited as the reason that Arnold won't be making it to Logan. Arnold was arrested in Burlington Iowa this past March for possession with intent to deliver marijuana, trespassing and domestic abuse.
The Tribune learned that Arnold, who was scheduled to be on campus in time for last season, was given a second chance of sorts for that transgression. Arnold, in fact, was scheduled to arrive in Logan on Thursday in time for summer school, according to a post on his facebook page.
However, with USU's team camp in full swing starting Thursday, Arnold was noticeably absent from pick-up games which are traditionally played at night when camp festivities are finished.
The Tribune has learned that there was a seperate legal incident involving Arnold in February that the coaching staff became aware of. That incident, apparently, was enough for the staff to pull the plug on Arnold.
It's a blow to Utah State on the court. Arnold was expected to be the Aggies starting small forward. At Southeastern Iown Community College, Arnold was a second team junior college All-American in 2009-2010. He's athletic, good off the dribble, can shoot the ball and would've given USU a big dose of firepower from the perimeter.
So now what?
The Tribune has learned that the ideal plan would be to play Kyisean Reed at small forward. Reed, a 6-7 forward, would instantly be one of the best athletes not only on Utah State, but in the Western Athletic Conference. However, he's still not on campus due to academic issues stemming from his junior college days at Antelope Valley in California. Also, he has yet to prove that he can play the small forward position.
If he can't, there's Antonio Bumpus, also very athletic. But he's 6-foot-3, much smaller than Reed, and perhaps better suited for the shooting guard position. Also, Bumpus is 2-3 weeks from playing full bore contact basketball because of the broken foot he suffered in practice last season.
There's Steven Thornton. He's on campus and playing. There's also Mitch Bruneel and Danny Berger. But Reed would be the first choice, if he can make it to campus, and if he has the perimeter skillset to play the wing.
Tony Jones