InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner has learned that a felony assault charge from New York last summer against Houston Rockets point guard Rafer Alston was dropped this morning.

In August of 2007, an incident in a New York nightclub resulted in a man claiming that he had been stabbed by Alston. However, there were virtually no witnesses that could verify this. And plenty of people who denied it, including Alston, who maintained his innocence from the start.

Also, various New York City-based contacts of InsideHoops.com who were not there but are acquantainces of Alston also didn't believe it.

Well, as of today, InsideHoops.com has learned that a judge officially does not believe it, either. The charge was dropped. Alston was not at the hearing -- and wasn't asked to be.

Eddie Lau, Rafer Alston's business manager, confirmed to InsideHoops.com that the case against Alston is over. Lau was quite pleased that Rafer's name has been cleared.

A 6-2, 175-pound veteran, Alston this season is averaging 12.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game.