Former Louisville Basketball Star Russ Smith Arrested, Charged with DUI

Russ Smith, a former University of Louisville basketball star, was arrested early on June 8 for driving under the influence, reckless driving, and driving with expired registration plates. Police stopped Smith after observing him make an illegal U-turn across multiple lanes and a crosswalk near Baxter and Highland avenues. Officers detected a strong odor of alcohol on Smith’s breath, and he admitted to consuming two bourbon pours before driving. Smith failed sobriety tests, including the walk-and-turn and one-leg stand tests, with a recorded blood alcohol content of 0.073, just under the legal limit of 0.08. Smith played for Louisville from 2010 to 2014, earning accolades such as the 2014 ACC Tournament MVP, and was part of the 2013 NCAA Tournament-winning team whose title was later vacated. He was released without bond, with his arraignment scheduled for June 11 in Jefferson District Court.