| | Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- UCLA could be in trouble if
investigators find a link between the Bruins' recruitment of JaRon
Rush and the $5,000 he was allegedly paid to reject Kansas.
In 1997, the highly sought prep star from the Kansas City area
had given an oral commitment to Kansas and was thought to be headed
there. He had played pickup games with Jayhawks players since
junior high school.
But according to an 11-count federal indictment handed down on
Thursday, former amateur coach Myron Piggie gave Rush $5,000 in
January 1998 for the lease of a car with the condition that Rush
not accept a basketball scholarship from Kansas.
A short time later, Rush began saying he was having second
thoughts about Kansas and even called a sports radio show and made
disrespectful comments about Kansas coach Roy Williams.
The next day, Williams announced he was no longer recruiting
Rush, and the 6-foot-6 standout later signed with UCLA.
There was no suggestion that authorities had found a connection
between Piggie and UCLA's interest in Rush, who was considered
among the nation's most promising high school prospects.
But a spokeswoman indicated the NCAA had taken note of this
latest development in a federal investigation that has touched some
of the nation's top players and four major college programs.
"We believe the majority of the eligibility issues have already
been addressed," NCAA spokeswoman Jane Jankowski told The
Associated Press on Friday. "However, we will review with UCLA to
determine if there are any outstanding issues."
A UCLA official said Friday the school had no connection with
Piggie.
"From UCLA's standpoint, the issues regarding JaRon's
eligibility have been resolved," said Betsy Stephenson, associate
director of athletics. "I think it's important to note that Myron
Piggie has never been a representative of UCLA's athletic
interests."
Piggie's attorney, Kimberley Kellogg Gepford, said Piggie would
plead innocent at a hearing Monday.
Investigators say Piggie paid the players with the understanding
they would repay the money with interest after they began drawing
professional salaries and product endorsements. The federal grand
jury said he paid JaRon Rush $17,000; Kareem Rush of Missouri
$2,300; Corey Maggette, who played one season at Duke, $2,000;
Andre Williams of Oklahoma State $250; and Korleone Young $14,000.
Young, a Wichita, Kan., native, went into the NBA draft without
playing college basketball. Kareem Rush, JaRon's younger brother,
is playing at Missouri.
The federal indictment accuses Piggie, of Kansas City, of
defrauding UCLA, Duke, Missouri and Oklahoma State because the
players' amateur status was compromised by their accepting money
while in high school.
He also is accused of conspiring with sports agents to determine
the future professional value of the players.
Piggie, 39, remained in federal custody after prosecutors
alleged he was a flight risk. He could face up to 49 years in
prison without parole and up to $1.85 million in fines.
He was also accused of contacting sports agents with the help of
George Raveling, a Nike consultant and former coach at Iowa and
Southern California. Raveling, who testified before the grand jury,
was not charged.
One of the agents, Jerome Stanley of Los Angeles, made four
payments of $50 each to JaRon Rush in a parking lot on the UCLA
campus, the indictment alleged. Stanley also was not charged.
JaRon Rush sat out a total of 24 games in connection with the
on-going investigation. He sat out 15 games for allegedly accepting
$200 from an agent and the NCAA ordered that he and his brother be
suspended nine games in connection with the Piggie case.
Williams missed five games and Maggette was never declared
ineligible at Duke.
Hill took care to point out that Piggie was the only one charged
and said the indictment should not be seen as an indication of
widespread corruption in amateur sports.
However -- against the opposition of many coaches -- the NCAA
appears headed toward abolishing the summer recruitment period
that has allowed amateur coaches and shoe companies to become
influential. On April 27, the NCAA's board of directors will vote on a
recommendation by the NCAA management council to cut the summer
recruiting to 14 days in 2001 and eliminate it entirely in 2002. | |
ALSO SEE
Amateur coach indicted in fraud of four schools
UCLA's Rush to declare for NBA draft
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