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Aminu enters plea, will stay at Wake Forest
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Published: August 7, 2008
By Dan Collins
JOURNAL REPORTER
Freshman Al-Farouq Aminu will start his basketball career at Wake Forest on schedule.
Coach Dino Gaudio said that Aminu, who is enrolled in summer school, will remain at Wake Forest and be eligible to play this season after pleading guilty this morning to three misdemeanors in connection with the BB gun shooting of a woman in Gwinnett County, Ga., in March.
Aminu, a 6-8 All-America from Norcross, Ga., was sentenced to 36 months' probation and 120 hours of community service after pleading guilty to reckless conduct, simple battery and criminal trespass. He and two co-defendants also must pay a total of $233.29 to replace a window of the victim's vehicle that was damaged by a BB pellet.
"In light of what happened, because it was misdemeanors, he will be enrolled here this fall," Gaudio said.
Gaudio said he felt as though a burden had been lifted off Aminu and the program.
This morning's sentence was expected. Prosecutor Tom Ludlum told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday that he had negotiated a plea with Aminu's attorney, Drew Findling.
"I think everybody can finally breathe a sigh of relief that it's behind us, and we can now move forward," Gaudio said.
Aminu and two ex-classmates at Norcross High — Prince Kent and Quintin Square — were originally charged with felony aggravated assault and trespassing. Aminu turned himself in to police and expressed remorse on several occasions. It is still unclear who fired the shots that left the victim, Rebecca Baltich, with minor injuries.
Baltich and her husband requested leniency for the three. Gaudio said that Aminu was remorseful at his sentencing.
"Al-Farouq once again apologized to the family for any problems that he may have caused them," Gaudio said.
Aminu, as a McDonald's All-American, is one of the most celebrated recruits in Wake Forest basketball history. He's the centerpiece of a three-player class that also includes 6-10 Tony Woods of Rome, Ga., and 7-0 Ty Walker of Wilmington.
"All three of those freshmen have a chance to come in and impact," Gaudio said. "But with Al-Farouq's skill level and ability to pass and rebound as well as score, he can really come in as a freshman and do big things."
n Dan Collins can be reached at 727-7323 or at dcollins@wsjournal.com.
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