Ex-NBA player Blount arrested on drug count

Former NBA player Corie Blount was charged with felony drug possession after authorities saw him pick up a package they knew contained marijuana, then found more marijuana at his home, the Butler County sheriff said Friday.

Deputies watched as the U.S. Postal Service delivered a package containing 11 pounds of marijuana to a Liberty Township address northwest of Cincinnati on Thursday.

When the 39-year-old Blount picked up the package, agents followed him to his home and served search warrants on the home and the address where the package was delivered, Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said.

At Blount's home, deputies found a second 11-pound package of marijuana, and another package containing about 7 pounds of marijuana, Jones said.

Blount was charged with felony drug possession and was released on $10,090 bond. If convicted of the charge, Blount faces one to five years in prison.

Deputies confiscated a total of 29 pounds of marijuana, a 1996 Mercedes Benz, a 2004 Cadillac Escalade, a 2000 Chevrolet Sububan, three guns and $29,500 in cash, Jones said.

Blount was the starting center on University of Cincinnati teams that reached the Final Four in 1992 and final eight in 1993, and went on to an 11-year career in the NBA. He was a first-round draft pick by the Chicago Bulls in 1993, and also played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors.

Blount was a volunteer coach this season at Cincinnati State and earned a degree this year in criminal justice.

His phone number is unlisted, and court officials couldn't say whether he has an attorney.