VCU point guard Briante Weber—who could break the NCAA’s all-time record for steals next season—will miss the Rams’ opener after he was suspended after he was charged with … wait for it … stealing an iPhone from a Richmond, Va., gym.
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According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Weber was charged with petit larceny after VCU police accused Weber of stealing an iPhone 5 at an on-campus gym last month.
Weber is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 25. VCU suspended Weber for a violation of team rules, but did not mention the charges in a press release.
Weber will also be suspended for a closed scrimmage and an exhibition game against California (Pa.).
The Rams open Nov. 14 in the inaugural Veterans Classic at Annapolis, Md., against Tennessee.
"“Briante has failed to live up to the standards we’ve set for our program and we are holding him accountable,” coach Shaka Smart said in the statement. “Part of his discipline includes missed competition. We expect that Briante will act according to the standards of our program moving forward.”"
Those standards apparently include a caveat that players limit their larceny to on-court activities only.
Weber, who will be a senior, averaged 9.4 points, 3.9 assists and a whopping 3.5 steals per game for the Rams, who were 26-9 but lost to Stephen F. Austin in overtime in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Weber has 296 steals in his first three seasons at VCU. The all-time record of 385 was set from 1997-2002 by Providence guard John Linehan. Weber had 121 steals in 35 games last season.