Brigham Young University (BYU) basketball star Kennard Davis Jr has been arrested in Provo, Utah, on suspicion of driving under the influence following a car collision with another vehicle.
The Arrest and Incident Details
The arrest occurred just before noon on Thursday, according to Provo police authorities. Davis was taken into custody, transported to the local police station, and formally charged. He received treatment for what were described as minor injuries, and his vehicle was impounded.
A public information officer for the Provo Police Department confirmed to ESPN that the other individual involved in the accident did not sustain any severe injuries. The timing of the incident is particularly significant as it comes just before the No. 7 ranked BYU Cougars are scheduled to travel to Boston to face the No. 3 UConn on Saturday.
BYU's Response and the Honor Code Dilemma
In an official statement released on Friday, BYU confirmed it is 'aware of the allegations and looking into the situation.' Beyond the immediate legal ramifications, Davis's future with the university is now under a cloud due to BYU's famously strict Honor Code.
BYU is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and requires all students, irrespective of their personal religious affiliation, to adhere to a stringent morality code. A key tenet of this code is a 'personal commitment to abstain, both on and off campus, from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, vaping, and substance abuse.'
Potential penalties for violating the Honor Code are severe and can include dismissal from the university. This places Davis's collegiate career in immediate jeopardy if the DUI allegations are proven true.
A Recent Precedent: The Jake Retzlaff Case
The university has recently demonstrated its willingness to enforce this code with star athletes. Earlier this year, BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff, a preseason Heisman hopeful, faced a seven-game suspension.
This was not due to criminal charges—a rape allegation against him was dismissed in civil court and he faced no criminal charges—but because in his legal response, he admitted to consensual sex with his accuser. This admission alone violated the Honor Code's requirement for students to 'live a chaste and virtuous life, including abstaining from any sexual relations outside a marriage between a man and a woman.'
Facing the suspension, Retzlaff opted to leave BYU and transfer to Tulane University.
Kennard Davis Jr, who transferred to BYU this offseason after averaging 16.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists for Southern Illinois the previous year, now finds his promising basketball career at a crossroads as the university investigates his case.
