UCLA's Anderson to host "college athlete party" just weeks after arrest

(UPDATE: Anderson has decided against hosting or even attending the event on August 5th. According to this ESPN LA article, his name has been removed from the promotional materials and weill no longer be involved in the event whatsoever.)

UCLA guard Jerime Anderson was poised to have a breakout season in 2011-2012, but a recent lack of decision-making skills may have put that quest on hold.

Last Tuesday, Anderson was stopped by University police after a report of a stolen laptop, and arrested the rising-senior on suspicion of grand theft. A tracking device within the computer led police to Anderson, who was released from jail on $20,000 bail. According to the press release, Anderson was suspended indefinitely, will not participate in team activities, and his future with the program will be evaluated as the legal process continues.

Anderson's attorney, Jon Artz, has asked for a fair trial and proper use of the justice system:

"It should be equal justice under the law. I would hope my client receives fair-handed justice from the [district attorney's] office, and I'm sure he will."

Now, Anderson has no priors, and seems like he just made an error in judgement, which all college students make during matriculation. But now that Anderson finds himself in not only Ben Howland's doghouse, but the school's and the DA's office's as well, you would think he would want to keep a low profile until, say, the beginning of the season?

Well, laying low does not seem to be listed on Anderson's schedule of events, especially not on August 5th.

According to a blog post from the LA Weekly, Anderson is supposed to host a "I LOVE COLLEGE!!! ATHLETES PARTY" on August, 5th at The Proud Bird, a bar/restaurant near Los Angeles International Airport. The party is being co-hosted by a bunch of Los Angeles' top "student-athletes", such as Edgar Garibay, a forward for Loyola-Marymount, who the Bruins will face in the season-opener, a game in which Anderson has already been suspended for. But Garibay is sure that Anderson still plans on hosting:

"Jerime will still be there. I talked to him yesterday, and there's some bullshit going on, but he'll be all right."

Now, there is nothing that says he cannot go to this party. It's not against the law for him to host a social event, but is this really what he should be doing now?



Anderson has admitted in the past that he had a problem with partying too much, especially after his freshman season. So now, at what might be the darkest time in his young life, he is going to revert back to old habits?

John Wooden is famous for saying "Adversity does not necessarily build character but reveals it".

After August 5th, it should be revealed what type of character Anderson has.