ORLANDO, Fla. — Jack Givens, the Orlando Magic’s television analyst and the Most Outstanding Player of the 1978 NCAA basketball tournament, has been arrested and charged with sexual battery and lewd molestation of a 14-year-old girl.
Givens, 47, spent last night in the Orange County, Florida, jail and was released after posting $25,000 bond this morning, police said.
“These are very serious allegations,” Givens told WKMG-TV in Orlando on his way out of court. “In the next couple of days, I hope this can be put to rest.”
Givens helped the University of Kentucky win the 1978 National Collegiate Athletic Association championship, scoring 41 points in the final against Duke. He played two seasons in the NBA and has been the Magic’s TV analyst for the past 15 years.
Givens is accused of sexually assaulting the alleged victim several times on Friday after he went to her house to give her a basketball lesson, according to a court document.
Investigators served a search warrant at Givens’ home Monday night. The results of the search warrant have not been released, but a computer was taken from the home.
Givens has been the color analyst for Orlando Magic broadcasts on both the Magic Television Network and Sunshine Network for the past 15 seasons. He also serves as co-host for the Magic pregame show “Countdown to Magic” and is or has been an analyst on NBC, Turner, ESPN, Jefferson Pilot and USA Network.
Givens is married and has two children, a 17-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter.