Former Georgia and Wichita State forward Jaykwon Walton will no longer transfer to Alabama, Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats said in a statement Monday afternoon. The decision comes after Walton was reportedly arrested Saturday night on second-degree marijuana possession charges.
"Alabama is no longer recruiting Jaykwon Walton and he will not be a student-athlete at The University of Alabama," Oats said.
Walton, 21, had committed to play for Alabama on March 28, shortly after the Crimson Tide were eliminated from the NCAA tournament by San Diego State.
According to a report from AL.com, Walton and two other men were sitting in a vehicle at a parking lot when police approached and said they smelled marijuana. He and the other occupants exited the vehicle, after which Walton informed officers that there was a loaded firearm in the car.
Police found marijuana and other weapons in the vehicle. Walton and another man were arrested and both charged with misdemeanors. They were released after posting $500 bonds.
Walton played 28 games for the Shockers in 2023, starting 27. He averaged 13.9 points per game and ranked among the American Athletic Conference’s most productive offensive players.
During the 2023 season, Alabama's basketball program came under scrutiny for its handling of a capital murder case involving former forward Darius Miles. Star forward Brandon Miller was alleged in police testimony to have provided the eventual murder weapon to Miles, but was not considered a suspect nor charged with a crime.
