| | LOS ANGELES -- Suspended UCLA basketball player JaRon Rush has admitted to university officials that he accepted money from an agent in violation of NCAA rules, it was reported Tuesday.
The agent, Jerome Stanley of Los Angeles, denies having anything
more than a friendship with the sophomore forward.
"That's not true," Stanley was quoted as saying in the Los
Angeles Times. "I did not give him any money at all. Zero."
Stanley said he told university administrators the same thing
last week.
Rush, who averaged 11.4 points and a team-leading 7.3 rebounds
for the Bruins last season, has been suspended from competition
since Dec. 10 while the school investigates a possible NCAA
violation.
Rush averaged 11.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in three games this
season before being suspended.
Rush did not accompany the 18th-ranked Bruins to Hawaii for the Pearl Harbor Classic, which began Tuesday. UCLA beat Maine in its opener. Instead, he returned home to Kansas City, Mo., for the holidays. The three tournament games will bring to five the number Rush has missed while on
suspension.
It was announced last week that Rush will probably be allowed to rejoin the team for practice after Christmas, even though the direction of the investigation is uncertain.
Also Tuesday, the NCAA ruled that Rush's younger brother, Kareem, must miss half the games during his freshman season at Missouri. Kareem Rush must also repay money he was given when he was 15 years old, and the money will go to charity.
The Times said sources "close to the situation" have confirmed
that JeRon Rush acknowledged improper ties when UCLA officials confronted
him about relationships with Stanley and former AAU coach Myron
Piggie.
The newspaper said Rush's grandmother, Jeanette Jacobs, confirmed a published report that Rush admitted to her that he took four payments of $50 each from Stanley.
Jacobs said she had dinner with Rush after the Bruins lost to
Gonzaga on Dec. 11.
"The guy (Stanley) is saying it didn't happen. If it wasn't
true, why would (Rush) say it?" Jacobs said. "(Rush) was just
telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. And
see what it got him."
Piggie, his former coach, also has said he has not provided
money to Rush since he's been at UCLA or introduced him to a sports
agent.
The Orange County Register reported a few days after the
suspension was announced that a grand jury is investigating Piggie
on suspicion of income-tax evasion, fraud and money laundering.
Rush returned last month to Kansas City to testify in Piggie's
case.
According to the Times, unidentified sources said a U.S.
attorney from the Western District of Missouri met with an FBI
agent and UCLA athletics director Peter Dalis a day before Rush was
suspended.
Dalis has said Rush's status will be determined when the school
completes its investigation.
"Our investigation is continuing, and we're not commenting on
the matter until it's completed," UCLA sports information director
Marc Dellins said Tuesday.
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