University of Illinois basketball player Jamar Smith apologizes for driving drunk and leaving his teammate hurt after a car wreck. Smith pleaded guilty to driving under the influence today after an accident in February.
    Smith was booked into the Champaign County Satellite Jail. He'll spend the next two weeks behind bars. He changed his plea today taking the state's deal. In exchange for a DUI conviction, the State dropped the charge of running away from an accident. This stems from a crash back in February where Smith drove his car into a tree then drove to his apartment leaving a teammate hurt inside the car. Smith's blood alcohol level was more than double the limit.
   Champaign County States Attorney Julia Rietz says this is Smith's first offense and hopes he'll learn his lesson. " This is a very serious case, but yet it is a situation where a young man has the potential to rehabilitate himself go on, and learn form himself and become a productive man of the community."
   Smith must also undergo substance abuse treatment , do 100 hours of community service and pay 1000 dollars in fines and fees. He was also sentenced to two years probation. Before this accident., University leaders met with Smith about his drinking.  A counselor characterized it as severe.
    The conviction will go on Smith's record.
    Smith released a statement through the University today. It says, "I take full responsibility for what occurred on the night of February 12, and I am deeply remorseful for everything that happened. I sincerely apologize for my actions, and for the negative light that I have brought to my family, friends, the University and the basketball program. What I did not only put myself in harms way, but I also put a teammate and anyone else that was on the road that night in danger. I have thought long and hard about the poor choices I made that night. I can't go back in time and make it go away, but I can do something about it from this point on, and that is why I will do everything in my power to make sure that nothing like this happens again.   
    Since the accident I have become a better person, friend and teammate. My goals are to obtain my college degree, speak to teens and schools all over Champaign-Urbana and Peoria about my experience so they can learn from my mistake, and be an advocate for student-athletes against drunk driving."
    Illinois Head Coach Bruce Weber had this to say, "I just learned of Jamar's plea bargain. We will need time to examine the facts and work with Ron Guenther and the University administration to bring closure to this situation. I will have no further comment to make regarding this situation at this time."