A former Penn State men’s basketball player is facing a misdemeanor assault charge after he allegedly punched a man unconscious during a fight in downtown State College.
According to a criminal complaint filed by State College police on Friday afternoon, 21-year-old former Nittany Lion forward Jevonnie Scott and 32-year-old Antwine Scarborough engaged in a mutual fight at about 2:30 a.m. on March 20 in the area of 118 S. Garner St.
During the altercation, police wrote, the two men ended up in the middle of the street, where Scott allegedly struck Scarborough in the head, knocking him unconscious and causing him to fall to the ground. Scott allegedly then stood over Scarborough and punched him in the face one time with a closed fist.
Scarborough was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries.
Police used surveillance camera footage to see the fight and track the alleged assailant leaving the scene, walking west toward a Calder Way restaurant where he was then viewed on camera inside, according to the complaint.
While an officer investigated, “several individuals advised they believed the suspect and company were PSU basketball players,” police wrote. “One witness advised they believed the suspect was Jevonnie Scott.” An officer found photographs of Scott matched the suspect seen on surveillance footage, according to the complaint.
When an officer contacted him by phone, Scott allegedly admitted to being involved in the altercation and said he had recently left the Penn State men’s basketball program to return home to Canada.
Scott’s departure from the team was confirmed by a program spokesperson earlier this month. Scott transferred to Penn State from South Plains College prior to the start of the 2021-22 season. He appeared in 11 games for the Nittany Lions, averaging 1.4 points and 1.6 rebounds.
The complaint filed on Friday charges Scott with one second-degree misdemeanor count of simple assault and one summary offense of disorderly conduct. A preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Scarborough was charged via summons with one summary count of disorderly conduct in May. His case is still awaiting a plea, according to court documents.
