ORLANDO, Fla. -- Jurors found former Orlando Magic television color analyst Jack "Goose" Givens not guilty of sexually battering a 14-year-old girl whom he was instructing in basketball.

The jury returned with the verdict at about 6:30 Friday night.

Givens, 48, was charged last year with two counts of sexual battery, attempted sexual battery and lewd and lascivious molestation. He denied the allegations, which were made days after he went over to the teen's home to coach her in basketball. After practicing outside for a half hour, Givens and the teen went swimming in the home's pool, where the teen alleged she was fondled. Later, in a bedroom, she claimed Givens tried to force her to perform oral sex, prosecutors said.

In closing arguments, Givens' attorney, Michael Snure, described the former University of Kentucky basketball star as a naive, goodhearted coach who had generously volunteered his time to help the teen only to have her repay him with false allegations. He compared the prosecution to the Salem witch hunt.

"This is any adult's worst nightmare," Snure said. "In hindsight, it was very bad judgment to go over there and get in the pool, not because he's a child molester but because it opened him up to these allegations."

Prosecutor Will Jay said proof of Givens' guilt included a physical examination showing an abrasion to the teen's genitals, instant messages of apology that he sent her and secretly recorded telephone conversations between the two.

"This defendant, through a series of his own bad decisions, put himself in a situation where he thought that is what the girl wanted and he was entitled to it," Jay said.

Givens graduated from the University of Kentucky where he is remembered for scoring 41 points during the Wildcats' win over Duke in the 1978 NCAA tournament final. He was a first-round draft pick of the Atlanta Hawks later that year and played two seasons with the team, averaging 6.7 points per game.

He has worked as a broadcaster for Turner Sports, NBC Sports, ESPN.

During his trial Thursday, Givens took the stand and claimed he may have made an error in judgment but was not a sex offender.

Thursday, he denied the accusations but admitted exchanging computer messages with the girl for six months. He said the subject of sex was seldom mentioned.

"When there was an issue such as masturbation, I would direct her to her mom," Givens said. "I just told her those were not things I should discuss with her."

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