FBI Probe into College Basketball

[Newsdreams]

For some of the loan items listed in the report, are loans illegal or against NCAA violations if they are related to a player going pro? For example, I doubt that it would be illegal if a player signed with an agent and took a loan of $5K to cover expenses related to travel and training leading up to a combine. How else would some of these guys be able to afford that? I can see how the NCAA may prohibit that, but a lot of guys won't care because they're on short time with the NCAA by that point anyway.

There is a lot more to it than that. And they would be ineligible to play college basketball if they enter into any type of deal with an agent. I mean just because they call it a "loan" guy still an agent.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Breaking right now on ESPN. Teams that violated include, Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, Michigan ST.North Carolina, Texas and USC.  ESPN saying possible suspensions happening as soon as this weekend.

This will effect the NCAA Tournament.

North Carolina?  Which directional NC school is getting whacked for this?

[skianth16]

There is a lot more to it than that. And they would be ineligible to play college basketball if they enter into any type of deal with an agent. I mean just because they call it a "loan" guy still an agent.

I get the ineligibility part, but if a guy has already declared, and is planning to hire an agent, why would they care about eligibility? For example, if Rowsey got a loan this year in April, would it be illegal? It doesn't matter at all if it's against NCAA regulations to him, because he's done anyway. I'm wondering more about the legality.

[GGGG]

I get the ineligibility part, but if a guy has already declared, and is planning to hire an agent, why would they care about eligibility? For example, if Rowsey got a loan this year in April, would it be illegal? It doesn't matter at all if it's against NCAA regulations to him, because he's done anyway. I'm wondering more about the legality.

What you are describing is perfectly legal.

[mileskishnish72]

It's OK to snigger regarding X & the Hall, but what did St. Jay know about Lowry's dealings?

[Dr. Blackheart]

Everyone's running for the weeds...

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/schools-implicated-federal-documents-rush-distance-andy-miller-192441806.html

[Tugg Speedman]

So Diamond was paid

Mark Turgeon denies contact with agency that reportedly made illegal payments to Diamond Stone
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/terrapins-insider/wp/2018/02/23/mark-turgeon-denies-contact-with-agency-that-reportedly-made-illegal-payments-to-diamond-stone/?utm_term=.7b44890caf4c
Maryland men's basketball Coach Mark Turgeon on Friday denied having any contact with the sports agency that was alleged in a news report to have made more than $14,000 in illegal payments to former Terrapins center Diamond Stone.

Let's go back in the time machine ...

April 15, 2015
The Baltimore Sun
Diamond Stone's father details why his son decided to play at Maryland
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bal-diamond-stone-decision-to-play-at-maryland-20150415-story.html

While Robert Stone said Wednesday that he and his wife, Cynthia, were impressed with the diversity of the student body in College Park as well as the proximity of the campus to thriving African-American communities, the presentation played a big role for their son, ranked the No. 2 high school center in the country.

"All these schools have great trainers, great training facilities," Robert Stone said in a telephone interview. "Maryland showed what they did to get Alex where he was and what he became. It was visual to him, it wasn't a coach or a strength and conditioning coach telling him. They showed us actual workouts with Alex. I think that stuck with him and the intensity of the workouts. To me, that was a big point." 

Robert Stone said he liked the region in general and the proximity to Washington.

"Eight miles to the most powerful city in the world," he said. "That's a very progressive area. I was looking at it as opportunities, if he was lucky enough to make the pros and got some money, I just felt there was more opportunity out there. With the blacks on the East Coast, it's a different sophistication than it is here in Wisconsin.

"I wanted him to see a more progressive African-American community. If he's going to have all this money, he's going to have to be a progressive person."

The elder Stone is aware that his son is being mentioned as a possible lottery pick in the 2016 NBA draft, as high as No. 4 overall according to DraftExpress.com. He said that the discussion of being a "one and done" has not even been talked about as a family.

"We have never sat down and had a serious discussion about one and done," Robert Stone said. "We have never talked about the pros and cons. That is not what we're about. We're about Diamond being successful, being successful as a person. All these projections don't mean anything. I have a saying that I use, 'Men make plans and God just laughs.' That's my philosophy.

--------

So is this now been shown to be a bunch of garbage?  It was not about black studies, it was about green studies.  "Progressive" is code for people that have checkbooks and "Power City" is code for rich white guys with money looking to make Maryland a winner?

[jesmu84]

So Diamond was paid

Mark Turgeon denies contact with agency that reportedly made illegal payments to Diamond Stone
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/terrapins-insider/wp/2018/02/23/mark-turgeon-denies-contact-with-agency-that-reportedly-made-illegal-payments-to-diamond-stone/?utm_term=.7b44890caf4c
Maryland men's basketball Coach Mark Turgeon on Friday denied having any contact with the sports agency that was alleged in a news report to have made more than $14,000 in illegal payments to former Terrapins center Diamond Stone.

Let's go back in the time machine ...

April 15, 2015
The Baltimore Sun
Diamond Stone's father details why his son decided to play at Maryland
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bal-diamond-stone-decision-to-play-at-maryland-20150415-story.html

While Robert Stone said Wednesday that he and his wife, Cynthia, were impressed with the diversity of the student body in College Park as well as the proximity of the campus to thriving African-American communities, the presentation played a big role for their son, ranked the No. 2 high school center in the country.

"All these schools have great trainers, great training facilities," Robert Stone said in a telephone interview. "Maryland showed what they did to get Alex where he was and what he became. It was visual to him, it wasn't a coach or a strength and conditioning coach telling him. They showed us actual workouts with Alex. I think that stuck with him and the intensity of the workouts. To me, that was a big point." 

Robert Stone said he liked the region in general and the proximity to Washington.

"Eight miles to the most powerful city in the world," he said. "That's a very progressive area. I was looking at it as opportunities, if he was lucky enough to make the pros and got some money, I just felt there was more opportunity out there. With the blacks on the East Coast, it's a different sophistication than it is here in Wisconsin.

"I wanted him to see a more progressive African-American community. If he's going to have all this money, he's going to have to be a progressive person."

The elder Stone is aware that his son is being mentioned as a possible lottery pick in the 2016 NBA draft, as high as No. 4 overall according to DraftExpress.com. He said that the discussion of being a "one and done" has not even been talked about as a family.

"We have never sat down and had a serious discussion about one and done," Robert Stone said. "We have never talked about the pros and cons. That is not what we're about. We're about Diamond being successful, being successful as a person. All these projections don't mean anything. I have a saying that I use, 'Men make plans and God just laughs.' That's my philosophy.

--------

So is this now been shown to be a bunch of garbage?  It was not about black studies, it was about green studies.  "Progressive" is code for people that have checkbooks and "Power City" is code for rich white guys with money looking to make Maryland a winner?

Weird dog whistle.

Anyway, there's no correlation. Like others have said, agency/agent may have given Stone money. But that doesn't mean it had anything to do with Maryland.

[Tugg Speedman]

Weird dog whistle.

Anyway, there's no correlation. Like others have said, agency/agent may have given Stone money. But that doesn't mean it had anything to do with Maryland.

I did not say Maryland knew.  I agree they probably did not.

I'm saying all the reasons cited for going to Maryland was not what Dad said, it was about illegal money.

And speaking of money, Diamond is bouncing around the D-League and is at serious risk of being out basketball in the US soon.

How's his Spanish?

[GGGG]

I think most people thought that Stone went to Maryland for reasons other than what he stated.

[brewcity77]

I think most people thought that Stone went to Maryland for reasons other than what he stated.

I don't think anything has happened to change those thoughts, either.

[jesmu84]

I did not say Maryland knew.  I agree they probably did not.

I'm saying all the reasons cited for going to Maryland was not what Dad said, it was about illegal money.

And speaking of money, Diamond is bouncing around the D-League and is at serious risk of being out basketball in the US soon.

How's his Spanish?

Why would he go to Maryland just because of the money from the agent?

Do we know he couldn't have selected Wisconsin and still gotten the money?

Feels like a bit of a stretch to say he only went to Maryland because of the money. Not even a stretch. There's no evidence

[Tugg Speedman]

Why would he go to Maryland just because of the money from the agent?

Do we know he couldn't have selected Wisconsin and still gotten the money?

Feels like a bit of a stretch to say he only went to Maryland because of the money. Not even a stretch. There's no evidence

Not a stretch that to think he waited until April of his senior year to announce because he was holding out for the highest bidder.  In fact, it is reasonable.

[jesmu84]

Not a stretch that to think he waited until April of his senior year to announce because he was holding out for the highest bidder.  In fact, it is reasonable.

So you're assuming a connection between his taking money contingent upon going to Maryland. But why Maryland? Why would the agent/firm tell him the money is conditional on that school?

[rocket surgeon]

Everyone's running for the weeds...

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/schools-implicated-federal-documents-rush-distance-andy-miller-192441806.html

nobody knows nothin, ein'a?

[Tugg Speedman]

So you're assuming a connection between his taking money contingent upon going to Maryland. But why Maryland? Why would the agent/firm tell him the money is conditional on that school?

Who knows, but is naive to think they gave him money with no stipulations on where to go to school.

[jesmu84]

Who knows, but is naive to think they gave him money with no stipulations on where to go to school.

What if the stipulation was purely just giving them first access as agents when he turns pro?

I don't have the answer. You seem to be implying you've connected dots. Dots that may or may not be there

[muguru]

Sean Miller...Oh boy

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22559284/sean-miller-arizona-christian-dawkins-discussed-payment-ensure-deandre-ayton-signing-according-fbi-investigation

[fjm]

He is SCREEEEWED. Woops. Bye Sean. Enjoy unromploykent.

[PGsHeroes32]

Hahahahaha Sean Miller might be the biggest loser to ever coach

Seriously, guy can't even properly cheat

No Final 4s and gets wire tapped??

Scrub

[forgetful]

Sean Miller...Oh boy

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22559284/sean-miller-arizona-christian-dawkins-discussed-payment-ensure-deandre-ayton-signing-according-fbi-investigation

If the NCAA allows Arizona and Ayton to play in the tournament, that is a big problem. 

[WarriorDad]

If the NCAA allows Arizona and Ayton to play in the tournament, that is a big problem.

Richardson and Miller both at Xavier prior to Arizona.  Could get messy for the Musketeers, too.

[jesmu84]

If the NCAA allows Arizona and Ayton to play in the tournament, that is a big problem.

Why? Don't these things have to be hashed out either legally by the feds or through committee by the NCAA? Those both take time. I would estimate more than 2-3 months.

Are there examples of recruiting violations resulting in immediate punishment?

[forgetful]

Why? Don't these things have to be hashed out either legally by the feds or through committee by the NCAA? Those both take time. I would estimate more than 2-3 months.

Are there examples of recruiting violations resulting in immediate punishment?

Because there is a recording of him soliciting payment for a player.  Case closed. 

If you let him play and them go to the tournament, and then punish them later it accomplishes nothing.  They already got what they wanted out of Ayton, and Ayton got what he wanted out of Arizona. 

You punish random other people. 

Without Ayton (should have been ineligible) and Trier (PED use) they wouldn't be making the NCAA tournament, they are in right now, because they cheated.  If you let them in, despite knowing they cheated, they prove that it is better to cheat than to play fair.

[jesmu84]

Because there is a recording of him soliciting payment for a player.  Case closed. 

If you let him play and them go to the tournament, and then punish them later it accomplishes nothing.  They already got what they wanted out of Ayton, and Ayton got what he wanted out of Arizona. 

You punish random other people. 

Without Ayton (should have been ineligible) and Trier (PED use) they wouldn't be making the NCAA tournament, they are in right now, because they cheated.  If you let them in, despite knowing they cheated, they prove that it is better to cheat than to play fair.

I understand your point. And understand the situation.

I'm just looking at what the NCAA has done in the past.

They let the OSU football guys play in their bowl game, for example.