By Timothy R. Brown
The Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippi State recruit Quinton Culberson could face up to 30 years in prison on a charge of assaulting sheriff's deputies after a fight outside a high school basketball game.

Culberson, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound, defensive back from Jackson Provine High School, was released from jail Friday on his own recognizance. He is accused of fighting with the deputies at a high school championship game Thursday night.

Culberson, rated among the top high school players in the country at his position, also faces charges of resisting arrest and disturbing the peace.

Culberson, 17, and Akeem Robinson, 18, of Jackson, were arrested after deputies had to disperse a crowd of several hundred people trying to push their way into the Mississippi Coliseum for the Class 4A boys game between Jackson Lanier and Provine, authorities said.

The game drew a sellout crowd estimated at 8,000.

Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin said the crowd outside the coliseum got out of control when the sellout was announced.

"There was overcrowding," McMillin said. "People were allowed in on the lot and paid parking fees. These folks were angry. They had paid the parking fee. They were milling around outside."

McMillin said some fans attempted to "crash the game," and Culberson and Robinson tried to force their way through the coliseum doors when deputies stopped them. A scuffle took place and one deputy sustained a cut to his eye that required stitches, McMillin said.

Culberson left the jail with a bruise to his eye.

Robinson was also charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and disturbing the peace.