Ex-NBA Star Sampson Arrested in Gwinnett

Former college basketball and NBA star Ralph Sampson was jailed Tuesday in Gwinnett County on several charges, Gwinnett Detention Center records show.

Sampson, a 7-foot-4 center for the University of Virginia and several NBA teams, reportedly was arrested in Peachtree Corners on Tuesday when Gwinnett Police stopped his car for an expired tag.

A further check showed that Sampson had an outstanding warrant from Duluth Police and that he had a suspended license for child support obligations. The warrant reportedly was for a 2008 charge for failure to appear for an insurance citation.

Sampson, who has a Duluth address according to jail records, was released early Wednesday on bond.

Sampson was a very heavily recruited college player who chose the University of Virginia in 1979. He led the Cavaliers to an NCAA Final Four appearance in 1981.

The Houston Rockets drafted him No. 1 in 1983. He averaged 15.4 points per game in his NBA career, playing for Houston, Golden State, Sacramento, and Washington. However, in his 10-year career, he played in just over 50 percent of his teams' regular-season games because of injuries.

(This information was obtained from the Gwinnett County Sheriff. It does not indicate a conviction. For questions about this blotter, contact steve.burns@patch.com.)