Canyon Coach Stands Behind Player

Canyon High basketball player Jamil Austin, arrested Friday in connection with the theft of merchandise from a Canyon Country hardware store, played in Tuesday night’s game at Quartz Hill with the support of Coach Greg Hayes.

“In our society, you are innocent until proven guilty,” Hayes said.

Austin, a forward who was averaging a team-high 13.9 points a game, scored 17 points Tuesday as Canyon fell to Quartz Hill, 72-69. Austin missed Friday’s 62-48 win over Antelope Valley.

Austin, 18, was arrested along with 3 other teen-agers and booked on suspicion of stealing more than $1,200 worth of telephone equipment. The Canyon senior is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 2 in Newhall Municipal Court on charges of burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary and receiving stolen property, according to Sgt. Gregory J. Palmieri of the L. A. County Sheriff’s Department.

“We’re going to try and get along as best we can as if nothing happened,” Hayes said. “I believe, our players believe, and Jamil believes, that what began as an unfortunate incident . . . a lot of good will come from it.”