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Pierre Pierce playing against Iowa today
Pierre Pierce ignited the most polarizing era in Iowa basketball history. Now he gets a chance to compete once again on the same court as the Hawkeyes.
Yes, seriously.
Pierce is a member of Hyeres-Toulon, the team Iowa faces today in southern France. Here's Pierce's tweet:
— Pierre Pierce (@pierre_pierce) August 19, 2013
Pierce, as most of you recall, was involved in a pair of sexual assaults while a member of the Iowa men's basketball team. In 2002, Pierce was accused of sexually assaulting a female student-athlete. He reached a plea deal brokered by university officials that allowed him to stay on the basketball team and accept a red-shirt season. This was after Coach Steve Alford proclaimed Pierce's innocence. In 2005, Pierce was charged with another sexual assault and was dismissed from the team. He served 11 months in prison for third-degree burglary, false imprisonment, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse and criminal trespass.
Pierce later was sent to jail for 30 days for violating his probation. Multiple times he requested to leave the country to play basketball in France, but was denied. Eventually, in 2008, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled he could leave. He since has played in France, Greece, the Ukraine and Georgia (former Soviet republic).
"Fran (McCaffery) or any of our coaches were not aware of it before they arrived at the facility today," Iowa media relations director Steve Roe. "The opponents on this trip were scheduled by an outside agency and with the task of getting competitive games. This team would not have been scheduled by a member of the university staff."
Pierce has played in three games for Hyeres-Toulon and averages 18.3 points a game. He last played for the team in December.
Tip is at 11 a.m.
Wow.
"Fran or any of our coaches were not aware of it before they arrived at the facility today," Iowa media relations director Steve Roe. "The opponents on this trip were scheduled by an outside agency and with the task of getting competitive games. This team would not have been scheduled by a member of the university staff."
Former Iowa basketball player Pierre Pierce is led from the Dallas County Court House by Sheriff's Deputies after being arraigned on multiple charges February 9, 2005 in Adel. Pierce did not enter a plea in the case and bond was set at $32,500. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)
