Former UA point guard Josiah Turner was arrested on suspicion of DUI by campus police, a UAPD official said Sunday.
Turner was arrested within the last week, according to University of Arizona Police Department officer Joe Bermudez. No further details or a full police report were available as of Sunday.
The freshman guard from Sacramento, Calif., averaged 6.6 points and 2.7 assists per game for the Wildcats during Pac-12 Conference play, but will transfer after being suspended twice for unspecified violations of team rules.
Turner was first suspended for Arizona’s December matchup with the Florida Gators and then was indefinitely suspended prior to the Pac-12 tournament and the team’s eventual NIT appearance.
UA head coach Sean Miller brought Turner in as the crown jewel in one of the nation’s top recruiting classes entering the season, alongside Angelo Chol, Nick Johnson and the since-departed Sidiki Johnson.
Upon Turner’s suspension at the end of the season, Miller said in a statement: “I am disappointed in Josiah for his action. Unfortunately this suspension comes at a time of great excitement and opportunity for our team. However, the standards of our program will not be compromised under any circumstances. Hopefully, Josiah will learn a valuable lesson from this experience.”
Turner, a five-star recruit, and Sidiki Johnson, a four-star, were half of Miller’s four-member recruiting class and both are no longer a part of the Arizona basketball program — Sidiki Johnson transferred to Providence in January.
Now, Turner has left the Wildcats scrambling for options to run the point guard position. Jordin Mayes, Nick Johnson and incoming freshman Gabe York appear to be the top options, while the Wildcats are also in contention for Xavier transfer guard Mark Lyons.
Timeline of Turner’s troubles
Nov. 9, 2011 — Turner is removed from the starting lineup on Nov. 9 against Duquesne after showing up late for the pregame shootaround
Dec. 7, 2011 — He is suspended for a game against the Florida Gators for unspecified reasons
March 7, 2012 — He is suspended indefinitely, just before the Pac-12 tournament, for an unspecified violation of team rules. Turner ended up missing the Wildcats’ NIT appearance as well.
April 11, 2012 — The UA announces that Turner would transfer. St. John’s had reportedly emerged as a possibility.
Week of April 23, 2012 — Turner is arrested on suspicion of DUI by campus police. UAPD official said the arrest happened sometime last week.
