ASU’s Star Dismissed After Latest Allegation

Jamal Faulkner, Pacific 10 Conference freshman of the year in 1991, was dismissed from the Arizona State basketball team Saturday after his arrest for allegedly slapping a female student who last week testified on his behalf in court.

Faulkner, a 6-foot-7 forward from New York, was released Wednesday after spending six days in jail for parole violation. After the latest incident, he was being held in Tempe City Jail pending arraignment on a charge of misdemeanor assault and a new allegation of probation violation.

At least 15 Arizona State athletes have been arrested in the last 14 months. Some, including Faulkner and teammate Dwayne Fontana, have multiple arrests.

“It’s over,” Coach Bill Frieder said. “If nothing else, he was on a Class A-1 probation with me not to give the university any more embarrassment.”

Faulkner averaged 15.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in his freshman season, but his production fell off last season, when he was charged in a fraud case. He led the team with in scoring at 12.6 and averaged 5.6 rebounds.

Faulkner, 21, and three teammates pleaded guilty to fraud in totaling $13,474 worth of unauthorized telephone calls on the credit-card number of assistant coach George McQuarn over a 13-month span.

In the latest incident, Faulkner allegedly slapped Rosalyn Felder, 20, with an open hand and prevented her from leaving the bedroom of her apartment. Felder, who identified herself in court as Faulkner’s former girlfriend, served as a character witness Aug. 27, when the player was attempting to persuade a judge not to impose a jail term.