USA Basketball orders Rico Gathers to complete 20 hours community service

In a precedent-setting move, USA Basketball has ordered Baylor forward Rico Gathers to complete 20 hours of community service before he can participate in the Pan Am Games, USA Basketball announced in a statement Monday, as reported by Andy Katz of ESPN.

Gathers, who is among the 22 college and professional players named to the USA Basketball tryout roster Monday, was arrested earlier this month after allegedly shoplifting nearly $200 worth of items from a Walmart in Waco, Texas.

In a statement, USA Basketball said it had spoken with Gathers, his attorney, and Baylor head basketball coach Scott Drew.

USA Basketball has completed its investigation into the matter and has determined that Rico will remain eligible to compete for a roster spot for the 2015 USA Pan American Games Team subject to his completion of 20 hours of community service and fulfilling his obligations as determined by the court in this matter. A major factor in this decision was Rico's cooperation and his acceptance of full responsibility for the incident.

Drew told Katz that any punishment from the university will be dealt with after the conclusion of the legal proceedings, which could take months.

Gathers, who will enter his senior season in the fall, averaged 11.6 points and 11.6 rebounds last season.