FAYETTEVILLE — Jacorey Williams will not return to the Arkansas basketball program after an off-season filled with legal issues.
Williams was arrested last month for passing counterfeit money at a Fayetteville business and was linked to two reported assaults. Williams will be arraigned next week in connection with the counterfeit arrest, but has not been charged for either alleged assault.
“Members of our program carry a responsibility to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the expectations we have established for our student-athletes both on and off the court," Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said in a statement.
Williams and two teammates - Anton Beard and Dustin Thomas - were arrested July 22 for passing counterfeit money at Fayetteville businesses. According to the arrest report, Williams passed a fake $20 bill at a gas station.
Identity Change
Arkansas must replace at least six players from last season's team. Here is a look at the departed players, their contribution last season and their reason for leaving.
Bobby Portis - SEC player of the year after averaging 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds; was drafted by Chicago Bulls in first round of NBA Draft.
Michael Qualls - Second-team all-SEC after averaging 15.9 points and 5.3 rebounds; signed free agent contract with Oklahoma City Thunder.
Ky Madden - Averaged 9.6 points and 4.6 assists; exhausted eligibility.
Alandise Harris - Averaged 7.6 points and 3.3 rebounds; graduated.
Jacorey Williams - Averaged 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds; dismissed after off-season arrest.
Nick Babb - Averaged 0.7 points; transferred to Iowa State.
The three players were recorded by surveillance cameras buying merchandise with counterfeit money. They admitted to using the money but denied knowing it was fake, according to the arrest report.
One week following the arrest, an Arkansas News Bureau report stated Williams was accused of pushing his girlfriend to the ground on July 5 and punching a bouncer July 18.
In the first incident, Williams allegedly knocked Essence Singleton, his now ex-girlfriend, to the ground when she approached him at the Lit Lounge on Dickson Street about money he owed her, according to the police report.
Bryan Jones, a bouncer at the bar, witnessed the event and stepped in between the couple. He then helped Singleton contact the police. According to the police report, she had scrapes on her hands and knees and one fingernail was slightly torn.
In the second incident, which is possibly connected to the first one, Jones was punched in the face and knocked unconscious while checking IDs at the entrance of Lit Lounge.
He and two witnesses said the man who punched Jones was a black male that played basketball at Arkansas, according to the police report. The man was later identified as Williams.
According to the police report, the punch temporarily blinded Jones’ right eye, causing him to go to the hospital. He regained his vision the next day and suffered no permanent damage.
When police followed up with him, Jones claimed that Williams punched him in retaliation for helping Singleton contact police after the first incident.
Jones said he wanted to move forward with speaking to the prosecutor, according to the police report.
Williams played in 96 games during his three seasons with the Razorbacks. He averaged 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game as a junior last season.
With Williams' dismissal, Arkansas will have to replace at least six players from last season's roster. Beard and Thomas, who also have arraignment hearings next week, remain indefinitely suspended.
Andrew Hutchinson contributed to this story