By Eric Prisbell, USA Today
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. -- Two weeks after banning four AAU teams from competition, the NCAA is actively investigating several other prominent summer-league programs because of suspected ties to sports agents, taking direct aim at an issue that has frustrated college coaches nationwide in recent years.
By Brace Hemmelgarn, US Presswire
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley dunks during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at the Target Center. Beasley, who had played for Curtis Malone, the co-founder of the elite AAU program D.C. Assault, asserted in a civil suit filed in the fall that Joel Bell (who represented several NBA players) had bankrolled Malone's program and, in return, Malone felt obligated to steer Beasley to Bell for representation.
Sponsored Links
"It's been amazing to me the amount of information that is coming into the staff," LuAnn Humphrey, director of enforcement for the NCAA basketball focus group, told USA TODAY Sports. "We are looking into many (AAU) programs that we believe have an affiliation with agents … whether it's through former student-athletes, professional athletes, financial planners, the connection directly to the agent. We are going to do our best to obtain as much information as possible and try to expose those who may be jeopardizing the eligibility of our student-athletes."
Two weeks ago, the NCAA took an uncharacteristic step in trying to get a handle on what Humphrey and college coaches call the biggest issue facing college basketball. The organization banned four AAU teams from competing in NCAA-certified events because of their association with sports agent Andy Miller.
But college coaches and Humphrey said relationships between AAU programs and sports agents have become more prevalent across the country in recent years, and the issue to date has been difficult for the NCAA to combat. While many agents and AAU coaches operate aboveboard, some agents look to gain influence over elite prospects by helping to bankroll AAU teams. In turn, some college coaches work their relationships with the agents in order to help steer those elite players to their universities. And other coaches lose out in recruiting because they do not foster such relationships.
"There's more money, and when there's more money, there are more problems," Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo said. "There's no question that it has gotten progressively worse. The sad part is that there are some programs doing it right and they are lumped in with the others, and that's sad. It's just sad."
One of the most popular schemes used in recent years, according to college coaches and Humphrey, is for college coaches or agents to make donations to the AAU programs, which often are established as non-profit charity foundations. Almost none of the prominent AAU programs list their donors on their tax forms, according to an examination of their tax forms.
"There's no paper trail," ESPN national recruiting analyst Dave Telep said. "There's no real linking. It's too easy to get done, and too difficult to prove. The people within the world of AAU and college basketball have a pretty good idea that that is out there. They also have no idea on how to combat it. And I do think the college guys seek a level playing field."
Humphrey said the non-profit issue is "very high on our radar."
"If an individual wants to coach during our NCAA certified event, and if a team wants to participate during an NCAA certified event, there is a requirement that if the NCAA conducts an inquiry, then those individuals will cooperate fully," Humphrey said. "By cooperating fully, what that means - and this was very purposeful - we would have the opportunity, in justified circumstances, the NCAA would be asking for their IRS 990 forms as well as a form that would require those individuals to specifically identify who has made contributions to that non-profit."
Some connections between agent and AAU coaches are well known in college basketball circles. Joel Bell, who has represented several NBA players, has had a longstanding relationship with Curtis Malone, the co-founder of the elite AAU program D.C. Assault.Michael Beasley, who had played for Malone, asserted in a civil suit filed in the fall that Bell had bankrolled Malone's program and, in return, Malone felt obligated to steer Beasley to Bell for representation.
Malone has denied the allegations in the suit. And in October, Beasley's attorney voluntarily withdrew the third-party complaint Beasley filed against Malone.
When asked if she was aware of the Malone-Bell relationship, Humphrey said, "I certainly read the paper. As you know, I can't comment on any specific case, individual or investigation."
more read here
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar