Illinois' Jamar Smith Violates Probation By Drinking Again

Let me refresh your memory:

Jamar Smith was the guy who drove his car into a tree, injuring teammate Brian Carlwell, who was a passenger. Oh, and Smith was drunk. Oh, and Smith believed that Carlwell was dead (he had a severe concussion), yet drove the car ... with Carlwell in it ... back home. Oh, and Smith went into his apartment, leaving Carlwell unconscious in his car.

If not for a neighbor calling 911, Carlwell may have died in that car.

Smith served a 15-day jail sentence (yeah, that was it) and was placed on two-years probation. He sat out all of last season due to all of this. Now he is in trouble again.

One of the terms of his probation is not drinking. Well, he was caught outside a bar during an argument over the weekend.

Smith wasn't involved in the argument but, according to police, an officer noticed Smith smelled like alcohol. When police asked, Smith admitted he had been drinking, Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz said.

"They did not arrest him based on anything that happened that night," Rietz said. "But they were aware he was on probation and that he was not supposed to be drinking," and forwarded a report to Rietz's office.

This doesn't look good for Smith. On a probation violation, they don't have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was drinking so Smith could end up with a stiffer penalty. It could range from a more difficult probation to a 14-year prison bid.

As far as his status with the team, it still is unknown:

"As his coach and someone who cares very much about him, I am disappointed that he would put himself into a compromising position, especially after the commitment he's shown over the last year is his effort to return to our program," Bruce Weber said. "We will wait to learn all the facts before commenting any further."

UPDATE: His status with the team is now known. Illinois has dismissed Smith from the program ... citing him breaking his agreement with the school.