Former Memphis Tigers basketball star Jeremy Hunt sentenced to 43 days in jail for DUI

Former Memphis basketball standout Jeremy Hunt was sentenced to 43 days in Shelby County Correctional Center on Thursday after being found guilty of driving under the influence following an arrest last November.

It was Hunt's second DUI conviction in five years.

According to court records, officers responded to an accident on Nov. 20, 2016 at Interstate 40 and Austin Peay Highway.

Hunt had red, watery eyes, was incoherent, had trouble standing and smelled of alcohol, according to an affidavit.

An 18-wheeler truck driver, Shawn Moseley, witnessed the accident and reported he saw a Chrysler 300 rear end a Dodge pick-up truck. The Chrysler then ran off the road into nearby woods.

Hunt emerged from the Chrysler and told Moseley he was “(messed) up," according to the affidavit. Hunt then began walking westbound on Interstate 40.

Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies detained Hunt and he refused to take a field sobriety test, according to the affidavit.

In July 2012, Hunt pleaded guilty to reckless aggravated assault and DUI after his car struck a disabled vehicle and a man who was helping the motorist. Hunt was given two years of probation after the incident.

Terry Reid subsequently had both of his legs amputated as a result of the crash and filed a civil lawsuit against Hunt. The jury ruled in favor of Reid on Nov. 16, 2016, and he was awarded $1,152,956 in damages, according to Shelby County Civil Court records.

Four days later, Hunt was arrested again.

He was still in the midst of serving two years of probation stemming from a guilty plea for domestic assault in May 2015. Hunt is scheduled to report to jail next Friday and also must pay a $600 fine, according to court documents.

According to court records, Hunt must also be placed on 10 months, 14 days supervised probation, serve three days community service and attend alcohol rehabilitation. 

When reached by telephone Thursday, Hunt declined to comment. His attorney, Leslie Ballin, also declined to comment.

Hunt, 34, starred for the Tigers under former coach John Calipari from 2002-07, emerging as an integral piece during the program’s return to national prominence. He was the team’s second-leading scorer by his final season at the school.

But his time at Memphis was also marked by controversy. Hunt was dismissed from the team for the 2005-06 season after he was accused of being involved with two alleged assault incidents. He was then reinstated in August 2006.

Hunt last played basketball professionally in Greece during the 2015-16 season. For the past three years, he was the main organizer behind the annual Memphis Tigers basketball alumni game.