Two members of the Duke basketball team face charges related to a driving while impaired arrest of one of the players Sunday, according to The News & Observer. The grandson of legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski Michael Savarino was arrested on suspicion of DWI, and Blue Devils star freshman Paolo Banchero has been charged with aiding and abetting DWI, a charge given to individuals in North Carolina who knowingly encourage, aid, advise or instigate another person to drive or attempt to drive while impaired, according to court records obtained by The News & Observer.
Both players were arrested in Orange County, North Carolina, and have court dates related to the case scheduled for next month.
Banchero was in the starting lineup for Duke's home game Tuesday night vs. Gardner-Webb although Savarino's status remains unclear and he was not with the team vs. the Bulldogs.
"We are reviewing a legal matter involving two members of the men's basketball team," the Duke athletic department said in a statement released to the News & Observer. "Any further actions as a result of this situation will ultimately be determined by the Vice President/Director of Athletics and University officials."
Savarino is the son of Duke assistant athletic director Debbie Savarino, the oldest of Krzyzewski 's three daughters. He joined the program as a walk-on in 2019 and was given a scholarship in the offseason. He played four minutes on Friday in Duke's 82-56 win over Army in which he recorded one rebound.
Banchero, the preseason ACC Player of the Year, is averaging 19.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game for the Blue Devils through three games. A versatile 6-foot-9 forward, Banchero is the top-ranked player in CBS Sports' 2022 NBA Draft prospect rankings and the No. 1 selection in CBS Sports' most recent NBA Mock Draft.
He ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the 2021 recruiting class behind Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren and is a major factor in why Duke was picked to win the ACC this season, despite missing the NCAA Tournament last season. Banchero was especially impressive in Duke's season-opening win over Kentucky in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 9, as he debuted with 22 points and seven rebounds while connecting on 7 of 11 shots.
