A woman was accused Thursday of telling her teenage daughter to hit another player during a basketball game last month in Southern California, an act that was widely viewed on social media and that the other player’s mother said caused a concussion.
The woman, Latira Hunt, 44, was charged with two misdemeanors — one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one count of battery — the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
“It is unconscionable that a parent would encourage her child to engage in violence during a sporting event,” District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. “Youth sports are invaluable in teaching our children discipline, teamwork and sportsmanship. But a win-at-all-costs mentality that is completely devoid of fair play, respect and civility is disgusting.”
The game between the SoCal Blaze and Dream Academy on Nov. 7 was part of a tournament at a facility in Garden Grove, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles, NBC Los Angeles reported. In a video of the incident that went viral, a 14-year-old player from Dream Academy can be seen missing a 3-point shot, the station reported.
Immediately afterward, the Dream Academy player can be seen falling to the floor. A player beside her — identified to NBC Los Angeles by her mother, Alice Ham, as Lauryn Ham, 15 — also falls.
After she gets back up, the Dream Academy player can be seen lunging toward Lauryn and striking her in the head. She immediately crumples to the floor.
In Thursday’s statement, Spitzer accused Hunt, who was at the game, of telling her daughter: “You better hit her for that.”
Lauryn was diagnosed with a concussion after the game, Alice Ham told NBC Los Angeles.
In the days after the game, Corey Benjamin, a onetime first-round draft pick for the Chicago Bulls who played for the team from 1998 to 2003, apologized for his daughter, telling NBC Los Angeles in a statement that he was “shocked and disappointed” by her behavior.
“This is not a reflection of the values and standards that my family holds,” he said. “Nor does it exemplify the values, character and spirit of sportsmanship that the game of basketball requires. My daughter made a mistake. One that she will need to make right. I am committed to getting my daughter any help she may need and support her in taking accountability for her conduct.”
A lawyer representing Benjamin’s family, Brett Greenfield, said in an email Thursday that “we look forward to seeing the evidence and will address the charges accordingly.”
He added: “In the meantime, nothing is being done to protect the privacy of a minor nor has any protection been offered in the face of multiple unsolicited threats and racist rants directed toward the mother and minor daughter.”
Hunt is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 26.
Kevin Hahn, a lawyer representing the Hams, said in an email that the family was “pleased” with the charges.
“We believe that this is the correct decision and the first step toward ensuring that there is accountability,” he said. “There is no place in sports for a parent to incite violence against another child. We are hopeful that this will serve to discourage this type of behavior in the future.”
Andrew Blankstein contributed.