Villanova looking into incident involving freshman Pinkston

A Villanova University basketball player is under investigation for an assault that occurred early Sunday morning in a residential area of Upper Merion Township, police said.

JayVaughn Pinkston, a freshman forward from Brooklyn who was a McDonald's All-America and named New York state's Player of the Year last year, has not been charged in the assault, though police "are looking into his involvement within this incident," said Upper Merion Sgt. Jeffery Maurer.

Police responded to Bryn Mawr Hospital around 3:30 a.m. Sunday for a report of an assault that had occurred at a house on Keebler Road near Langdale Court in the township, Maurer said. He would not release the age or condition of the victim, except to say that he has already been released from the hospital. Maurer also declined to confirm that the victim was a Villanova University student.

Several basketball blogs and posters on those blogs suggest that the assault may have occurred at a fraternity party, but Maurer would not confirm if there was a party, if other students were involved or if weapons were brandished during the assault. He said Villanova University is cooperating with the investigation.

Villanova issued a statement about the incident earlier today and said it is "currently gathering information on the events in question."

"The university has been made of aware of an incident Saturday night involving Villanova men's basketball player JayVaughn Pinkston and other students at an off-campus location," the statement said. "The university has been in contact with Upper Merion Township authorities and is currently gathering information on the events in question. While this review is underway, it is inappropriate for the university to comment further."

Coach Jay Wright was not available for comment.