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News Nuggets, 01.25.06
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Loaded stogie nets trouble for Memphis player

MILLINGTON, TN — Memphis indefinitely suspended freshman center Kareem Cooper on Tuesday following his arrest on misdemeanor drug charges after police found marijuana in his truck during a traffic stop.

Coach John Calipari met with Cooper on Monday night, the school said in a statement, and further sanctions will be handled internally.

"I believe that Kareem understands the enormity of the situation and is very sorry for what he did," Calipari said. "He knows that he is being held responsible for his actions and the effect this incident has had on our team. He realizes that his actions are totally unacceptable for any member of our team."

Cooper was stopped early Monday morning in this Memphis suburb, just a few hours before the Tigers improved to No. 3 in the Top 25. Memphis (17-2) plays UAB on Thursday night.

The 6-foot-11, 285-pound player was pulled over when an officer noticed the truck Cooper was driving crossed the center line on a parkway five times and changed lanes without signaling.

"The overwhelming and obvious odor of burning marijuana flowed freely from the interior," according to the police report. "The driver did openly advise there was a small amount of marijuana in the console."

A cigar filled with marijuana was weighed by police at 0.5 grams with 0.2 grams in a plastic bag.

Cooper was arrested and charged with reckless driving, simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released after being fingerprinted and photographed and is due in city court on Jan. 31, Millington Police Chief Rick Jewell said Tuesday.

The freshman has started one game and played in 14 for the Tigers, averaging 10.9 minutes and 4.6 points per game. He had lost about 40 pounds since coming to Memphis last summer, but he missed one game in November for academic reasons and four with a stress fracture.

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