Freshman forward Markieff Morris accepted a diversion Thursday for the charges filed against him in August after firing an Airsoft rifle BB gun out of a Jayhawker Towers window.

Morris will be required to complete 20 hours of community service. Morris said he learned a lesson from the situation and wanted to put it behind him.

“I apologize for any embarrassment this caused KU and the basketball program,” Morris said. “I’m going to do my community service so I can conclude this matter.”

The incident occurred on the weekend before classes began when a BB hit a 47-year old woman in the arm outside of the Towers. The KU Public Safety Office filed an offense report that indicated Morris was also suspected of being intoxicated at the time.

Morris faced battery charges and was scheduled to appear in Lawrence Municipal Court Friday before he agreed to a diversion.

Kansas coach Bill Self declined to say if he disciplined Morris any further. In August, Self said the matter would be handled internally.

Self did indicate, however, that he had spoken with the players multiple times about their behavior following the incident.

“I’ve told Markieff and our guys that obviously they have to make better decisions and be much wiser in their judgment,” Self said.

Self said it all started with communication from the coaching staff.

“We need to do a better job as a staff to educate them of not only on-campus policies, but housing policies,” Self said. “If we would have done that, they would have known these types of Airsoft guns were not allowed on campus.”

— — Edited by Kelsey Hayes