The Weekly Ringer

The University of Mary Washington Student Newspaper

Two basketball players arrested

2 min read
Two players on the University of Mary Washington men’s basketball team were recently arrested, one charged with grand larceny, the other with shoplifting.
Ewillis
Elijah Willis.
Marcus Holley.
Marcellus Holley.

By JOE CLAYTON

Two players on the University of Mary Washington men’s basketball team were recently arrested, one charged with grand larceny, the other with shoplifting.

On March 18, 2013, junior guard Marcellus Holley, 21, of Chantilly, Va., was arrested for shoplifting from a Wal-Mart, according to the Fredericksburg Daily Crime Report for March 18, 2013. This is Holley’s second run-in with the law while at UMW.

Holley was also arrested for public intoxication on Sept. 6, 2011, according to the Fredericksburg Daily Crime Report for that day.

On March 25, 2013, a grand jury indicted junior forward Elijah Willis on a felony grand larceny. The alleged offense took place on Feb. 20, 2013. On April 2, Willis was arrested on capias, or arrest warrant. The arraignment is set for April 24, 2013. Information on Willis’ arrest comes from the criminal division of the Fredericksburg Circuit Court.

The university’s athletic department recently suspended two members of the team, but would not discuss their identity.

“I can confirm that two student athletes were indefinitely suspended from the men’s basketball team,” said Athletics Director Ken Tyler when asked about disciplinary action against the players. “It is not the policy of the athletic department to publicly release names of students involved in disciplinary action.”

UMW men’s basketball Head Coach Rod Wood declined comment on the issue.

The Bullet reached out to Holley and Willis for comment, but a response was not received before the time of publication.

Willis and Holley combined for 10 starts this past season, contributing seven points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 24.7 minutes per game in 2012-2013.