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Trevor Mbakwe and the Minnesota Golden Gophers got a big break on Friday when the senior forward found out he was going to avoid jail time during a court hearing in Florida.
The troubled former All-Big 10 player was summoned to court after violating his probation sentence stemming from a felony assault charge that he pleaded guilty to in 2009. Mbakwe had already violated his probation when he ignored a restraining order by writing on an ex-girlfriend’s Facebook wall in 2011. After violating his probation for a second time with a DUI arrest in July, it was believed he may face jail time.
Obviously, Mbakwe must be extremely pleased with the news that he will stay a free man. He now has a third chance and his senior season and NBA dreams are not yet lost. Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith must also be pleased because he will have his best player available on a team that has a chance to do damage in the Big 10.
Mbawke average 14.1 points and 9.1 rebounds in seven games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury a season ago. Ankle injuries tend to linger and Mbakwe certainly has some off-court distractions, but the ultra athletic forward led the Big 10 in rebounds his sophomore season and will have NBA scouts drooling if all is well this season.
Minnesota claims to have handled the situation internally and Mbakwe will not be dismissed from the team. What his role will be and whether he can return to the form that made him a star on the court have yet to be determined.
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