District Attorney Roger Echols dropped misdemeanor assault charges Thursday against former UNC basketball player and current Charlotte Hornets rookie P.J. Hairston.
The charges stemmed from the alleged assault in July on a Northern High School student during a game of pickup basketball at the downtown Durham YMCA.
Echols said he dropped the charge of simple assault and battery at the request of Kentrell Barkley, who claimed Hairston punched him in the face during the game.
Hairston had been scheduled to appear Thursday in Durham County District Court on the charge.