That’s exactly what former collegiate basketball player and Syracuse University alum Brendan Paul testified last week. He detailed his purported role in distributing narcotics in connection with then-music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. The 26-year-old native of Cleveland is making his major league debut this season. He first made headlines in 2024 when he was arrested at a Miami International Airport for carrying cocaine and marijuana.
Paul, a 6’2 guard, became a walk-on at Syracuse University, where he saw little action as a member of the Orange. In 24 months, he had only entered a match from the substitutes’ bench 16 times. In that stretch, he accumulated just 17 minutes of playing time and made just three points. Though he played in college for only a few years, his burgeoning career and recent jail stints have gained notable notoriety.
Testifying, Paul revealed he was used by Combs as a drug mule on several occasions. He pleaded guilty to purchasing illegal drugs for the legendary musician on five to ten occasions. He had spent as much as $500 a day on drugs like cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy, and weed. He remembered one scary instance when he retrieved cocaine while “sweeping” Combs’ domicile. Then, later, thinking too little about drugs, he went home, forgot them and left the hard drugs in a bag.
When Paul was arrested at the Miami airport, his life took a completely different turn. After his actions during the riot, he was charged with major crimes and was removed from office. After successfully finishing a pretrial diversion program, the charges were dismissed. This innovative outcome has enabled Paul to do just that and get past the legal challenges he faced.
Her case underscores the importance of understanding how intertwined celebrity culture and substance abuse are. It underscores the need to hold high-profile figures accountable and the damaging effect they can have on impressionable young people.