Saturday, junior guard Jaylon Tate became the latest Illinois basketball player arrested. And now he's the latest Illinois basketball player to receive an indefinite suspension.
Athletics director Josh Whitman and head basketball coach John Groce released a joint statement Saturday in the hours after Tate's arrest for domestic battery announcing that the Chicago native and Simeon High School product has been suspended indefinitely.
"We are aware of the allegations against men's basketball student-athlete Jaylon Tate. Tate has been indefinitely suspended from all team activities pending legal proceedings and an investigation into the allegations. It is important that we take time to fully understand the events of last evening before passing judgment. We condemn domestic violence in all its forms and will move swiftly and decisively if these allegations are substantiated."
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The last part of that statement makes it clear that Tate's time with the Illini will end should his alleged actions be proven to have occurred.
Tate was arrested Saturday morning and is scheduled to appear in court on Sunday, according to the Champaign News Gazette.
Tate's arrest comes not even a full month after Illinois sophomore forward Leron Black was arrested and charged with pulling a knife on a nightclub bouncer. Groce suspended Black indefinitely prior to Whitman's start date as the school's new athletics director and is waiting for the legal process to occur.
Tate and Black make it three Illinois players arrested in the last eight months. Darius Paul was arrested and charged with vandalism, public intoxication and resisting arrest in France during the team's summer European trip. When the Illini returned to the United States, Groce dismissed Paul from the program.
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Just a week ago, Whitman gave Groce a vote of confidence, saying during a radio interview that Groce will continue to be the Illinois head basketball coach despite three straight seasons without a trip to the NCAA tournament. Certainly Tate's arrest added to those of Black and Paul, plus suspensions of two players a season ago, could change Groce's status with his athletics director and throw his future back into doubt. But all that remains to be seen.