Former Louisville star Montrezl Harrell facing felony charges after recent traffic stop

Charlotte Hornets forward Montrezl Harrell has found himself in a bit of trouble during the offseason. Harrell, who played college basketball at Louisville, was pulled over in Richmond, Kentucky last month and is now facing felony drug chargers, according to Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer.

When Harrell was pulled over, the officer found marijuana on his person and in the vehicle.

“Harrell, 28, was pulled over by a Kentucky state trooper at 9:58 a.m. on May 12 while traveling southbound on I-75 for following the vehicle in front of him too closely, according to the police records,” Boone wrote. “Trooper Jesse Owens stated he ‘upon stop observed odor of marijuana’ from the silver 2020 Honda Pilot that Harrell was driving, according to the citation.

“Harrell, Owens wrote in the report, ‘admitted to being in possession of marijuana and produced a small amount from his sweatpants.’ During a subsequent search of the vehicle, which the report states Harrell claims was rented, ‘three pounds of marijuana in vacuum sealed bags’ were found in a backpack in the back seat, according to the citation. He’s been charged with trafficking less than five pounds of marijuana.”

The charges could be serious for the new Hornets forward, as Kentucky law states that he could be facing a Class D felony.

Harrell just wrapped up his seventh season in the NBA

After averaging 11.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in three years at Louisville, Harrell was drafted with the 32nd pick int he second round of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. He spent two years with the Rockets before joining the Los Angeles Clippers, where he spent the next three seasons. In the 2019-2020 season, Harrell was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, and he joined the Lakers in 2020.

Prior to this past season, Harrell was acquired by the Washington Wizards. He played in 46 games with the Wizards before being acquired by the Hornets midway through the year.

In 25 games in Charlotte, he averaged 21 minutes per game, posting a line of 11.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists.