A wrong decision will not preclude former Norcross basketball star Al Farouq Aminu's from achieving success as a college player —if he avoids trouble in the future.

A Gwinnett judge accepted a guilty plea from Aminu, a Parade Magazine and McDonald's All American and presumptive best player in Georgia last season, on three misdemeanor charges for his role in a BB gun-toting joy ride with friends that ended with a woman being shot.

Aminu was granted first offender status because he has no criminal history. That means his record will be wiped clean if he complies with the terms of his sentence — three years of probation and 120 hours of community service.

Aminu also must pay $233.29 to replace the window of the victim's vehicle, which was shattered by a BB pellet.

The judge ruled that Aminu can check in with his probation officer by phone and pay his probation supervision fees by mail from his new home at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., where he has signed on to play basketball.

Superior Court Judge William Ray acknowledged that Aminu could have an "unbelievable life of fame and fortune" before him if speculation about a future career in the NBA comes to fruition, but he cautioned the gangly youth about the company he keeps.

"Mere association often times can get you in a heap of trouble if the people you associate with are bad folks," Ray said.

Expectations will be high for Aminu, Ray said, adding that "you've got opportunities before you that most boys only dream about."

Aminu, 17, pleaded guilty to simple assault, reckless conduct and criminal trespass. He was initially charged with felony aggravated assault and trespassing. His attorney, Drew Findling, negotiated the plea with prosecutor Tom Ludlam.

At 6 feet 8 inches tall, the seemingly shy Aminu towered above his lawyer as he stood facing the judge, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his gray slacks. He made no statements in open court, answering only yes and no to questions from the prosecutor regarding the plea deal.

Prosecutors said Aminu and two of his former classmates — Prince Kent and Quintin Square — were each carrying BB guns while riding around in Square's vehicle on March 14. When the trio pulled up to the home of 34-year-old Rebecca Baltich on Jones Bridge Circle in Norcross, at least one of the boys opened fire from inside the vehicle.

Baltich was retrieving items out of her car in the driveway of her home when she was struck in the stomach.

Baltich's husband, Branden Baltich, chased the suspects' vehicle and got the license plate number.

A resource officer at Norcross High noticed a vehicle matching the description, and police tied the crime to the young men. Aminu turned himself in to police. Kent and Square were arrested at school.

Aminu later told detectives that he pulled the trigger on his BB gun, but that the safety prevented it from firing. He said Kent fired the shot that struck Baltich, according to the prosecutor.

Kent and Square were not present at court Monday. They will receive the same plea deal, lawyers in the case have told the AJC. Kent is a senior defensive back and wide receiver on the Norcross football team who has given a verbal commitment to attend Miami.

The Baltichs have asked the prosecutor to be lenient with the suspects.

Aminu, who led the Blue Devils to three straight AAAAA state championships, has been concerned about the victim and grateful for the family's insistence on a light sentence, according to his attorney. Findling said he plans to coordinate a meeting between Animu and the Baltichs soon.

"He'd like to just talk to them and apologize," Findling said.

*Staff writer Curtis Bunn contributed to this article.