Former Louisville basketball player Russ Smith was arrested over the weekend on charges of driving under the influence in Kentucky, based on online records. Smith, who was part of the 2013 NCAA championship team—though that title was later vacated due to rule violations—was pulled over shortly after midnight on Sunday.
According to reports from the Louisville Courier Journal, officers observed Smith’s vehicle swerving across lanes and even into a crosswalk, noting that his license plate had expired. During the traffic stop, officers detected a strong odor of alcohol on his breath.
Smith allegedly failed a roadside sobriety test and had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.073. In Kentucky, drivers with a BAC between 0.04 and 0.08 can still be charged depending on other evidence. Smith reportedly made a comment about having “two bourbons poured cleanly” before getting behind the wheel.
Online records indicated that he was driving without a proper registration and was also noted for reckless driving. After being processed, he was released on Sunday, with a court appearance scheduled for Wednesday.
At 34 years old, Smith had notable success during his college career, averaging 18.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists during the NCAA tournament. His time in the NBA included stints with the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies, but that was relatively brief.
