WMBFNews.com | Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC | News, Weather, SportsDarlington football star, USC recruit could be removed from school

Darlington football star, USC recruit could be removed from school

DARLINGTON, SC (WMBF) - Just two days after signing his letter of intent to play college football for South Carolina, Darlington High School's Victor Hampton was arrested for underage alcohol possession.

The Darlington County Jail officials confirm Hampton was arrested sometime before noon Friday for being a minor in possession of alcohol.  Hampton was released Friday evening on a $1,500 bond.

The State newspaper says that arrest may result in Hampton being reassigned to an alternative school. He's been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing, which should be held in the coming weeks.

If Hampton is reassigned to Darlington County Intervention School, it would be Hampton's fifth school in the past four years.

This is also not Hampton's first arrest. The State newspaper says Hampton has a prior arrest, in Charlotte in 2008.  The charges in that case were dropped.

He released the following statement regarding the arrest:

Since coming to Darlington High School, I have avoided the negatives influences that caused me to leave Butler and Independence High Schools prior to this year.  Unfortunately, this morning I allowed poor judgment to cause me to bring alcohol on school grounds and was arrested based on that poor judgment.  I deeply regret putting myself in this situation and the ultimate responsibility is mine's and mine's alone. 

As a student-athlete, I realize that many young people look up to me and let me say without a doubt that underage drinking is wrong!!  I know that I have let so many people down who believed in me from my family to friends to Darlington High School to USC.  I have come such a long way since coming here and unfortunately, for a brief moment, I allowed myself to do something like this.  I am so sorry that I allowed this to happen but I have faith that I can overcome this and be a better person because of it.  I am human and make mistakes but I now know that as I become an adult that such behavior will not and cannot be tolerated.  I realize that I cannot never allow anything like this to happen again.

Let me close by saying again how sorry I am for my actions and once this situation is taken care of in the court, I am prepare to move forward and be the positive role model that I should be.  I am asking for your prayers during this difficult time and know that everyday I am trying to be a better person in spite of this setback.  May God bless all of you and please do not give up on me yet.

Hampton is expected to play defensive back at South Carolina.

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