A judge this week ordered a mom who urged her daughter to sucker punch an opponent during a basketball game to pay a $9,000 fine.
ABC7 reports Latira Shonty Hunt, 44, must also apologize to the teen basketball player who suffered a concussion after collapsing on the court.
The attack in Orange County, California was caught on video and went viral on social media last November. Hunt is the wife of former NBA player Corey Benjamin who apologized for his daughter’s behavior.
Prosecutors described the attack as “unprovoked,” according to NBC News. They say Hunt yelled to her daughter “you better hit her for that” after she had an interaction with an opposing player.
The judge also ordered Hunt to complete anger management classes.
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The girl who suffered the concussion has been identified by her mother as Lauryn Ham. Both players apparently fell to the floor after a missed shot.
“The ball now has changed hands and they’re going back to the other basket,” Orange County DA Todd Spitzer said to USA Today, and that’s when he said Hunt encouraged her daughter to hit the other girl.
Hunt’s daughter can be seen getting up and lunging at Ham and striking her in the head, prosecutors say.
“As a father, I’m shocked and disappointed at my daughter’s behavior as this is not a reflection of the values and standards that my family holds. Nor does it exemplify the values, character and spirit of sportsmanship that the game of basketball requires,” Benjamin said after the attack. He has played for the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks.
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