Syracuse Puts Johnson on Probation

Syracuse basketball player Dave Johnson has been disciplined for his relationship with a 14-year-old girl who claims Johnson had sex with her two years ago, school officials said today.

Johnson, a junior and starting forward who averages 20 points a game, admitted to university officials Tuesday that he had a “relationship with a young woman that was inappropriate,” university spokesman Robert Hill said.

Johnson, 20, of Morgan City, La., was given one year probation and ordered to perform community service, undergo counseling and to apologize in writing to the girl.

The punishment does not affect Johnson’s status with the basketball team, which is ranked seventh nationally.

However, probation means that if Johnson breaks any university rules during the year, he could be penalized further, Hill said.

While the sexual misconduct case against Johnson is now closed, the incident has added another problem for the basketball program, which became the focus of a university investigation after published reports in December of possible NCAA violations.

Hill said as part of its probe, the university is also looking into allegations that Johnson and teammate Mike Hopkins lived at the home of basketball booster Joseph Giannuzzi and received gifts from him.