13-year-old stomps on opponent's head during AAU basketball game; police investigating



A 13-year-old male stomped on opponent's head during an Amateur Athletic Union basketball game over the weekend in Northern California, and police are investigating. You can view a video report about the incident — which includes a cellphone clip of the head stomp — here.

Tumakbo United and Payton's Place were on the court Sunday at the College of Alameda when a pair of players wrestled on the floor for possession of the ball toward the end of the contest, KGO-TV reported.

'You could clearly see the size of his shoe on his face.'

Video shows a Payton's Place player rush over to the scrum and stomp on the head of a Tumakbo United player with his right foot.

"He was down on the floor, and this kid just came and just stomped on him, and it's on his head," Eva Guingab told KGO regarding what happened to her son.

The station's video report showed an image apparently of the side of her son's head after the stomp, and it's full of red marks.

"You could clearly see the size of his shoe on his face," Guingab told KGO. "My son suffered [a] concussion for the first time [since] he played basketball." Guingab and her husband told the station their son went into concussion protocol and was dealing with headaches.

However, the family of the player who carried out the head stomp told KGO he was standing up for his teammate who he believed had been kicked and punched. The video shows the stomping victim lift up his right foot toward the player who wanted the ball before the stomp took place.

KGO said family members claimed an organizer told the Payton's Place player after the incident to leave the gym, and he did so — and that adults have been cyberbullying the Payton's Place player.

The Payton's Place team added to the station that the boy who carried out the stomp is "seeking help to control his emotions, and he is not playing with the program at this time."

On Monday, Payton's Place noted the following on Instagram: "There is footage circulating of one of our team’s games this past weekend. Unfortunately, the footage is not a positive representation of our team and our values. The behavior that was exhibited by our player is not acceptable, and is being taken seriously. We do not condone violence. Our players are expected to conduct themselves with integrity on and off the court. At this time, both teams are working together to resolve this matter."

'I think everyone was just in shock.'

Payton's Place on Tuesday added, "On behalf of the Payton's Place Family, we sincerely apologize to the player injured in this incident, his family, and all those impacted," KTVU-TV reported.

According to KGO, police said the Guingabs filed a report and an investigation is under way. Alameda police added to KTVU that its report identifies two 13-year-old players, but police don't have further information to share since those involved are juveniles.

"I think everyone was just in shock," Michael Tolentino ,who coaches Tumakbo United, told KGO. "I think, you know, we all kind of went on the court [and] went to the coach of the other team to say, 'Hey, what just happened? ... What's going on?'"

In regard to the player who stomped on her son's head, Guingab added to KGO, "If we don't say anything right now, this kid will think it's OK to do it because he's young. He thinks that walking away from this situation just like he did is just OK."

KGO added that there are questions about attacks that may have taken place after the stomp involving parents and officials, but nothing could be seen on video, and police haven't noted anything about that.

In addition, KGO said coaches indicated the players have competed against each other several times over the years, and race wasn't a factor in Sunday's incident. Tumakbo United is a Filipino heritage basketball program with a Northern California chapter, KTVU said.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Mom who shouted from stands for daughter to hit youth basketball game opponent ordered to pay more than $9,000 in restitution



A southern California mother who shouted from the stands last year for her daughter to hit her youth basketball game opponent was ordered this week to pay more than $9,000 in restitution, undergo anger management, and write apology letters, NBC News reported.

What's the background?

Latira Shonty Hunt, 44, of La Puente, was charged in December with one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one misdemeanor count of battery, the network said, citing a statement from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

During a Nov. 7 tournament game between the SoCal Blaze and Dream Academy, Hunt's daughter took a shot and fell backward and into the victim, who also fell to the court, after which they both got up and began walking to the other end of the court.

Prosecutors said Hunt yelled to her daughter "you better hit her," NBC News said.

It appears those words can be heard in the video of the incident, during which Hunt's daughter blindsides the victim, hitting her apparently in the head and knocking her to the court:

\u201cA mother has been charged for allegedly yelling instructions to her daughter to attack another player at a basketball game.\u201d
— The Post Millennial (@The Post Millennial) 1639186128

KNBC-TV reported that the victim suffered a concussion.

Judge weighs in

A county superior court judge on Wednesday granted Hunt misdemeanor diversion in exchange for completing a series of requirements over the next two years, including writing an apology to the victim, her parents, and both basketball teams, NBC News said, citing prosecutors.

Hunt also was also ordered to pay more than $9,000 in restitution and complete anger management classes before she can attend basketball games again, the network reported, citing prosecutors. Hunt also was ordered to stay away from the victim, NBC News added, citing the district attorney’s office.

The network said Hunt on Thursday couldn't be immediately reached for comment and added that it's not clear if an attorney was representing her.

Contrite words from attacker's father — a former NBA player

The father of the player who attacked the unsuspecting girl is former NBA player Corey Benjamin – and he issued an apology following the incident, which NewsNation said the Associated Press obtained.

"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," Benjamin said, according to the AP. "Nor does it exemplify the values, character and spirit of sportsmanship that the game of basketball requires."

He added: "To the young lady who was punched by my daughter during a youth basketball game, I sincerely apologize to you, and I am praying for your complete healing both physically and emotionally. To her family, I deeply apologize and regret that this happened to your daughter as she did not deserve this to happen to her. Finally, I apologize to all of those who have been impacted and hurt by the actions of my daughter as well as those of her mother."