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Missouri suspends former ECHS star Gant
Gant file
Former ECHS star Jakeenan Gant, the reigning Mr. Basketball in Georgia, has been suspended by University of Missouri head men's basketball coach Kim Anderson.

A former Effingham County High School basketball star has been arrested for assault and has been suspended from the University of Missouri’s team.

Jakeenan Gant was arrested early Sunday morning, along with teammate D’Angelo Allen and another man, Michael James Martin of Lone Jack, Mo. The three men are accused of third-degree assault and were arrested in Columbia, Mo., around 2 a.m. Sunday.

Coach Kim Anderson said Tuesday night that Gant and Allen had been suspended from the team.

“We are aware of the situation involving Jakeenan Gant and D’Angelo Allen and have suspended them from team-related activities as we gather more information,” Anderson said in a statement. “We have high standards for the conduct of our student-athletes and expect much more of them as members of our program.”

Columbia Police officers responded to a report of an assault in the area of 8th and Elm streets. According to the Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune, which obtained a copy of the incident report, three men were walking on Elm Street when they allege they were jumped by three or four others. One of the victims said he was hit while trying to help a friend who was on the ground and being assaulted.

Another complainant said he was assaulted and noticed one of the attackers dropped his wallet, and the wallet apparently belonged to Gant.

Gant, a 6-foot-7 freshman at the University of Missouri, was named Georgia’s Mr. Basketball in March and was regarded as the state’s top basketball prospect. He transferred from ECHS to the School of the Osage in Missouri, enrolling there in April.

A two-time state Class AAAAA player of the year, he is also the school’s all-time leading scorer. He signed with Missouri during the November 2013 early signing period and held firm to his commitment after coach Frank Haith left and was replaced by Anderson, an assistant.

Gant also played in the USA Basketball under-18 training camp.

Gant was given a summons, released on a signature bond and was not taken to Boone County Jail, according to the Columbia Daily Tribune.