MSU freshman basketball player Craig Sword arrested for carrying BB gun

FILE - Mississippi State freshman Craig Sword (23 in white) arrested for carrying a BB gun in his college dorm room Sunday.

FILE - Mississippi State freshman Craig Sword (23 in white) arrested for carrying a BB gun in his college dorm room Sunday. Photo by: Alabama High School Activities Association

Matt Stevens

July 25, 2012 6:03:17 PM

STARKVILLE - Mississippi State University guard Craig Sword was arrested this weekend for misdemeanor possession of a BB gun on a educational property.

The freshman guard, who was on campus for the second semester of summer school on the MSU campus, was arrested by university police after the BB gun was found in his dorm room.

"I am aware of the situation involving Craig bringing a BB gun into the dorm, which is a misdemeanor," MSU basketball coach Rick Ray said in a university statement Wednesday.

Since Sword was found to be in possession of a BB gun, the violation does not fall under the definition of a carrying a firearm under university policy. Ray said Sword's punishment will be handled in-house before the start of the 2012-13 season.

"Craig did not point it at anyone or towards anyone," Ray said. "Craig realizes the severity of his actions, is extremely remorseful and fully understands that he must be held accountable. There will be disciplinary action carried out once I have all the facts and details."

Sword was actually signed under the old MSU leadership led by all-time wins leader Rick Stansbury and maintained his commitment when Ray was named the Bulldogs new head coach.

Sword was the Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year in the state of Alabama. The 6-foot-3 guard led Montgomery Carver High School to a 29-3 record and the Class 6A state championship this past season. A two-time returning First Team All-State selection as named by the Alabama Sports Writers Association, Sword averaged 17 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, five steals and four blocks per game in his senior season.

All of the Dispatch MSU Sports Blog readers: feel free to follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/matthewcstevens for up-to-date Mississippi State coverage.

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