John Wall, the nation’s most sought after unsigned basketball recruit, has been cited by Raleigh police for misdemeanor breaking and entering. Wall was seen leaving from the rear of a house in southeast Raleigh that is currently owned owned by National City Bank and uninhabited, after an apparent foreclosure. Also cited in connection with the incident were a 17 year old male and 16 year old female. Reportedly, there was no forced entry, no property damage and no property was stolen. Many have asked why he is charged with breaking and entering, if there was no forced entry. Well, to borrow my seldom used lawyer hat, breaking “and” entering is somewhat of a misnomer. North Carolina General Statute 14-54 makes it a Class I misdemeanor to wrongfully break “or” enter any building. Furthermore, “breaking” does not require forced entry either. Simply opening an unlocked door constitutes breaking. Even less stringent, “entering” can be as little as sticking your finger through an open window. Take the jump to learn why college coaches shouldn’t back off the prep phenom.
College basketball fans across the country, including your truly, lost several hours of productivity today following this story and how it will affect Wall’s recruitment. The number one ranked point guard in the class of 2009 by Scout.com was supposed to trim his list of schools to two or three today, from a list that includes N.C. State, Duke, UNC-CH, Memphis, Kentucky, Florida, Miami and Baylor. I’m guessing that didn’t happen. Considered by many to already have a fair amount of baggage, with a drawn out recruitment and suspect AAU handlers, some suitors may back off. In reality, no one should back off because of this. From a legal perspective, Wall will likely enter the first offenders program and have the charge dismissed after completing community service. By the way, did Ty Lawson miss any games for his driving after drinking charge last year? I didn’t think so.
There has also been speculation that there could statutory rape issues, as there was a 16 year old girl present. Well, folks, the age of consent in the great state of North Carolina is 16. The Piler Some say that’s the most important thing they learned in law school.
From a common sense perspective, it’s just not that big of a deal. Yes, what he did was illegal, but what high school kid doesn’t look for a place to hangout sans adult supervision? I know my crew drank many a beers in partially constructed houses in high school. Wall, certainly showed poor judgment, considering he just has to keep his nose clean and not get injured in the next 14 months and he will be worth tens of millions, but this will be little more than a bump in the road.
