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Brandon Austin Accepts JuCo Basketball Scholarship After Indefinite Suspension from Oregon For Gang Rape Allegations

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In the past year, Brandon Austin has been accused of sexually assaulting women at two different schools where he played basketball, yet a third school has recruited him.

According to the Huffington Post, just after being dismissed from the University of Oregon Ducks team, Austin accepted a scholarship to play at Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC). The junior college indicated they felt as though they were offering Austin "an opportunity" to stay out of trouble and ultimately graduate.

"We are confident in our ability to provide Brandon with the infrastructure and support system our student-athletes need in order to be successful in the classroom, on the court, and in the community," Ramsey Ross, NWFSC's athletic director, said in a statement to the HP. "At our level of athletics, we have a unique and powerful opportunity to provide student-athletes a setting to improve their lives by continuing to pursue their educational and athletic goals, and Brandon will be no different in that regard."

While at Oregon, Austin and two of his Ducks teammates were accused of gang raping a female student in March. The state district attorney did not press charges for lack of evidence, but the three players were suspended and ultimately dismissed from the school for up to 10 years. The school was also aware of the allegations against the three players during the NCAA Tournament, the HP previously reported.

Shortly before Oregon announced the three players' suspension, the Associated Press published a report that said Austin and a former teammate were suspended from the Providence College basketball team for sexual assault. The Wall Street Journal first reported the police investigation, but the two players were suspended Nov. 6, 2013.

After learning their suspension would last the entire season, Austin transferred to Oregon. Due to his transfer waiver, he has not even played any college basketball, but was a highly regarded recruit. A six-foot-six forward, Rivals ranked him 45th overall in his class, the same as Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker (the first and second picks in this year's NBA Draft), and ESPN pegged him 56th overall.

Hutchinson Community College also showed interest in Austin, but ultimately did not offer him a scholarship, the HP reported. Steve Carpenter, the school's sports information director, only said the school declined to make an offer after a meeting.

Carpenter told the HP, "Brandon had a visit and after an evaluation process, our officials decided not to offer him."

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