A women’s basketball player at the University of North Carolina Wilmington was arrested last week and faces four felony charges, according to court records obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
Paige Smith, 20, was arrested at 10:55 p.m. on Feb. 10 at New Hanover High School in Wilmington and faces charges of felony possession of marijuana (between 1.5 ounces and 10 pounds in North Carolina), possession with intent to manufacture or sell or deliver marijuana, possession with intent to sell or deliver a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of school property, and maintaining a vehicle or dwelling or place for controlled substances. Smith also faces a misdemeanor charge for possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
According to a release order from the New Hanover County District Court, Smith was “in possession” of “approximately half of a pound” of marijuana that was “packaged for delivery and distribution” in a high school parking lot. The report says there was also a gun in the vehicle — a Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 — at the time of the arrest, “even though it did not belong to the defendant.” The order adds that Smith has no prior criminal record.
A spokesperson for UNC-Wilmington athletics told USA TODAY Sports that Smith is still enrolled at UNCW — and has been since June 2025 — as a pre-psychology major, but has been suspended from the women’s basketball team since Feb. 9, the day before her arrest. She is no longer listed on the Seahawks’ online roster.
“Consistent with our commitment to student privacy and the integrity of ongoing processes, UNCW will not offer additional comment,” the spokesperson said.
Smith posted a $5,000 bond on Feb. 11, according to court records.
The attorney Smith has retained, Ebern Thornton Watson, declined to comment when reached by USA TODAY Sports, saying in a statement: ‘It is the policy of the New Hanover County Public Defenders office to refrain from comment on any pending matters.’
USA TODAY Sports has also submitted a request with the New Hanover County’s Sheriff’s Office for the full arrest report.
The 5-foot-7 guard from Hagerstown, Maryland, joined the UNCW Seahawks last April, transferring from the Community College of Baltimore County Essex, where she was a NJCAA Division II All-American. She had a handful of NCAA Division I offers after averaging 17.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.9 steals for CCBC Essex, where she also ranked third nationally in 3-pointers made, connecting on 96 shots from behind the arc.
‘Paige is someone that checks all the boxes for us,’ UNCW coach Nicole Woods said in April. ‘We were looking for a three-level scorer and someone who played with an extra chip on her shoulders.’
Smith had appeared in 21 games for the Seahawks this season, playing 19.6 minutes per game off the bench. She was averaging 8.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, ranking third on the team in scoring for the 6-18 Seahawks. In her last appearance for UNCW, a loss at William & Mary, Smith tallied 19 points and five rebounds. She scored a season-high 25 points in a loss at Gardner-Webb on Nov. 19.
Her next court appearance is set for Feb. 26.
