UNCW women’s basketball player arrested on drug charges, suspended from the team

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A University of North Carolina Wilmington women’s basketball player has been arrested on drug charges.

According to court documents, 20-year-old Paige Smith was arrested Tuesday. Smith was allegedly found in the parking lot of New Hanover High School with approximately half a pound of marijuana that was packaged for delivery and distribution.

A release order also states that a gun was located inside the vehicle at the time of the arrest, though the weapon did not belong to Smith.

Smith is facing several felony charges, including possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver marijuana, felony possession of marijuana,
manufacture/sell/deliver/possess controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school property, maintain a vehicle/dwelling/place controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of marijuana paraphernalia.

In a statement to WWAY, UNCW said Smith is currently enrolled at the university as a pre-psychology major and has been enrolled since June 2025.

The university confirmed Smith is a member of the UNCW women’s basketball program but has been serving a program suspension since Monday, Feb. 9.

UNCW says Smith was suspended on Monday, the day before her arrest on drug charges.

“Consistent with our commitment to student privacy and the integrity of ongoing processes, UNCW will not offer additional comment,” the statement said.

Smith joined the Seahawks as a junior after transferring from a community college in Baltimore.