Former Buckeye star, NBA player charged with assaulting wife

POWELL, Ohio (AP) -- Dennis Hopson, Ohio State's career men's basketball scoring leader and a former NBA player, was charged with domestic violence after allegedly attacking and threatening to

Tuesday, April 25th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

POWELL, Ohio (AP) -- Dennis Hopson, Ohio State's career men's basketball scoring leader and a former NBA player, was charged with domestic violence after allegedly attacking and threatening to shoot his wife.

Hopson, 35, also was charged Monday with menacing and disorderly conduct, but prosecutors dismissed the menacing charge. The former player with the New Jersey Nets, Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings will be arraigned next Monday in Delaware County Municipal Court.

Hopson allegedly attacked his wife, Tracie L. Hopson, 32, at their home in this Columbus suburb early Monday.

A report written by Sheriff's Deputy Jennifer Yarhouse alleges that Hopson pushed his wife down and threatened to shoot her and anyone else who came to the house when she tried to call 911 for help. The report said he was not armed.

Hopson was released on his own recognizance. A judge barred him from returning to his house or coming within 1,000 feet of his wife.

Hopson was second in the nation in scoring as a senior at Ohio State, averaging 29 points a game.

The number three draft pick in the country, Hopson went on to play five seasons in the NBA. He averaged 10.3 points per game for his career.

After leaving the NBA, he played with professional teams overseas.