UConn Guard Marcus Williams has applied for accelerated rehabilitation.

Basketball Players Charged

Williams Applies For Accelerated Rehabilitation

By: Andy Silva

Posted: 8/31/05

UConn guards Marcus Williams and A.J. Price were arrested in late August and charged in connection with the investigation of the theft of four laptop computers from university residences at the beginning of the summer.

According to a press release from university police, Williams, 19, of Compton, Calif., surrendered to university police on Aug. 16 after being informed of the existence of four warrants for his arrest and was charged with four counts of 3rd-degree larceny. Williams has applied for accelerated rehabilitation, which could see the charges against him dropped. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 13.

Price surrendered to university police on Aug. 12 and was charged with four counts of 3rd-degree larceny and one count of 2nd-degree false statement, according to the press release. He appeared in court Tuesday and entered a plea of not guilty.

According to the press release, the arrests stemmed from the investigation into three separate burglaries between June 9 and June 14. According to the press release, laptop computers were taken from each residence, with two being taken from one of the residences.

According to police, information was obtained that Price, Williams and a third man attempted to sell the laptop computers at locations in Manchester, including a pawn shop. According to the press release, staff at the pawn shop recognized Williams and told him they did not take laptops. University police also executed a total of five search warrants for two residences and cell phone records. Four laptops were recovered - two during the execution of the search warrant for Price's local residence.

According to the press release, Price gave university policy a written statement claiming he had no knowledge of the laptops police found at his residence. However, police said Price later admitted he did know the laptops were at his residence at the time he gave his written statement when he was informed of the existence of cell phone text messages that were contrary to his written statement.

Both players have been suspended indefinitely from the men's basketball program by head coach Jim Calhoun, according to an Aug. 17 press release from Athletic Communications.

"In light of the pending charges against Marcus and A.J., I have suspended them from all basketball team-related activities," Calhoun said in the press release. "They are barred indefinitely from all team activities and their academic and personal activities will be closely monitored on a daily basis by the members of our basketball staff. They will continue to have complete access to all of the academic support staff so they can focus their energies on their studies.

"It is important that everyone allow the court system and the university judicial system to run its course," Calhoun said in the press release. "This is a time for them to concentrate on their academics and the resolution of these issues."

Despite suspending them from the team, Calhoun has been vocal in his continued support for Williams and Price.

"I want to tell our fans, tell everyone [who] was disappointed in the actions of our kids: It was stupid, it was thoughtless, it was selfish and I'm incredibly disappointed," Calhoun told The Hartford Courant on Aug. 19. "With that said, I have never abandoned any of my kids nor do I expect to abandon these two young men."

Calhoun made similar comments while appearing on ESPN SportsCenter last week during its ongoing "50 States in 50 Days" segment live from the Pilot Pen tennis tournament.

Connecticut media first reported that Williams and Price were under investigation in late June. At that time The Hartford Courant and the New London Day cited "university sources" in reporting that the basketball players were being investigated in connection with the laptop thefts.

Williams started all 31 of the team's games during the 2004-2005 season, averaging 9.6 points and 7.8 assists. Williams sat out the second half of his freshman season in 2004 - UConn's national championship season - due to academics. Price red-shirted last season - his freshman season - after suffering a near-fatal intracranial hemorrhage.