Tony Farmer, one of the top college recruits in the country collapsed last Tuesday after receiving the maximum sentence of three years for viciously assaulting his girlfriend.

Farmer, a student from Garfield Heights was a basketball star in the making. Before April 23rd, the teen’s biggest problem was weighing and selecting potential offers from major colleges around the nation.

Unfortunately, Farmer forfeited this future after assaulting his ex-girlfriend Andrea Lane, 18 in her Bedford Heights apartment last April 23rd. Disturbing surveillance video (seen below) shows his sudden vicious and continuous attack while the victim pleaded for help.

“Lane is literally cowering in a corner and she is trying to push him away from her,” Judge Pamela Barker explained. “And ultimately, then, he, hits her in the head several times as she is cowered in that corner. That’s what the court witnessed on those videotapes, and that does not incorporate, as far as I understand, is all that took place because this was within the confines of the apartment complex.”

Despite the violent outburst from the teen, his supporters had asked the judge to be lenient. In fact, his ex-girlfriend and victim Lane testified in court that Farmer does not deserve a prison sentence. And his coach, Sonny Johnson testified for the player’s overall character.

“I don’t know what type of help he needs,” Lane said. “I don’t know what was wrong with him that day. I know he was a good person. I hope he still is. I hope he learns from this.”

“I’m here to say with my heart, that this young man, if you give him an opportunity, in five years from now, he’s gonna make you proud. I know it. I know him,” Johnson also added.

Unfortunately, Judge Barker didn’t believe that being a basketball star matters in this case.

“There’s nothing in the sentencing guidelines that talks about him being a basketball star, and being able to go forward, when obviously she’s been very traumatized by this whole situation,” she firmly tells Fox 8.

The judge also added that in addition to the attack, Farmer did not show any remorse for his actions, stating that he later sent threatening text messages to the victim after he had learnt of the filed charges.

“He certainly threatened her or said that he should have done something more to her and so that in addition to what I saw on the tape was very telling to me and it was a violation of the ‘no contact’ order that was put in place to protect her,” Barker revealed.

Farmer was sentenced to up to three years in prison for multiple charges including felonious assault. The judge added that he can apply for early release after serving 180 days.

“The opportunities that were lost, I would just say that he lost them,” Barker said.

Did Farmer deserve leniency or was the judge correct in giving him the maximum sentence? Watch the assault and court video, as well as his released highlight reel.