Ben McLemore, a Kansas University freshman basketball player who is ineligible to play this year, was arrested on a warrant Tuesday morning for failing to appear to court.

According to Douglas County District Court records, McLemore, 18, received a ticket Nov. 4 from a state Alcoholic Beverage Control officer for being a minor in possession of alcohol. The officer alleged that McLemore was found with a Red Bull and vodka at Abe and Jake’s Landing, 8 E. Sixth St.

The freshman from St. Louis was given notice to appear in court Dec. 6, but a judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest when he didn’t show up, according to court records. According to Douglas County Jail records, a sheriff’s officer arrested McLemore on the warrant at 11 a.m. Tuesday on campus. At 1:50 p.m. Tuesday, McLemore posted $500 bond through a bondsman and was given notice to appear in court Dec. 27.

The NCAA in October declared McLemore, as a partial academic qualifier, ineligible to play in games in the 2011-2012 season, and, according to the ruling, he would be allowed to practice beginning in January.

“Ben was arrested today for missing a Dec. 6 court date, which is obviously not acceptable. Ben, not 21, was given a citation earlier for possession of alcohol at Abe and Jake’s, a local Lawrence establishment. He exercised poor judgment,” KU coach Bill Self said in statement. “He also did not let anyone know that he had been cited and had a court appearance because, certainly, we would have made sure he was there.

“This will be a learning experience for him and probably a fairly costly one. Any other discipline will be handled in-house. He should begin practicing with our team when grades are turned in (following the fall semester).”