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| | Thursday, February 17 | |||||
ESPN.com | ||||||
| Break out your calculators, we're going to do some basic math.
Take a high school basketball player with limited financial resources who goes off to an upscale prep school in the East or Mid-Atlantic for a season. Few of the prep schools grant scholarships and if they do, it's usually a partial ride. The cost to attend said prep school is usually in the $20,000-$25,000 range for one school year.
Grant, who is a Kansas alumnus, doesn't appear to have any ties to Oklahoma State. Williams played at Schlagle High in Kansas City, Kan., before going to MCI for his senior year. In his statement, Grant said he paid for Williams' tuition with funds from his foundation, which helps students get to college. The NCAA is reading the action as an extra benefit for Williams that he wouldn't have had had he not been an athlete. But the NCAA didn't forbid JaRon Rush from attending UCLA after Grant paid for his schooling at Pembroke High in Kansas City. JaRon Rush was suspended at UCLA for receiving $200 from Los Angeles-based agent Jerome Stanley (a charge he denies) and other money from Piggie. He is set to return to UCLA on Sunday and will be allowed to practice Monday.JaRon Rush's brother Kareem Rush was suspended for 14 games for taking $1,800 in expenses from Piggie two years before he signed at Missouri, but the NCAA reduced his suspension to nine games. But the harshest penalty was leveled at Williams. Meanwhile, high-profile players across the country shouldn't live in fear of their financial benefactors being discovered. The information is in a vault, according to Dan Wetzel, who explores the recruiting world in his new book, "Sole Influence." "It's always been a secretive thing," Wetzel said. "No one wants to talk about how kids pay for prep school. Remember, this is Winchendon, MCI, St. Thomas More, all prep schools where kids have to come up with $20,000 to $25,000. There's no way to find out who's paying for it."The school doesn't have to volunteer it," Wetzel said. "Most of these kids don't come from affluent backgrounds. This is unfair to Andre because he's being singled out. It doesn't mean it's not a NCAA violation." Wetzel's book, which was co-authored by Don Yaeger, deals with the influence held by Nike and Adidas in the recruiting world through the high school and prep school ranks. Wetzel said the NCAA can only get the information through subpoena power. The NCAA had it for the Piggie case because of the federal investigation. "The NCAA would have to threaten to release the information to make the kids eligible," Wetzel said. "If the NCAA found out who paid everybody's prep school, then most of the kids who went to those schools would be under serious questioning. This is a can of worms the NCAA can't look into because if they do, there will be significant fallout." Sutton said there is no timetable for the appeal. He said Williams has handled the news as best as he could, but the Cowboys have been devastated. They miss the 6-foot-8 forward's rebounding prowess and need him over an arduous Big 12 season. Sources at the NCAA said it wants to rid itself of the influence of AAU coaches. But it is bigger than just cutting back recruiting days in the summer. Higher academic standards, early entry into the NBA and an intense competition for players has opened up a new market: getting players into prep schools to ensure their college eligibility. How they're paying for the tuition is the latest question the NCAA will face, but it's one it isn't prepared to uncover. To start or not to startEric Chenowith has the skills to carry Kansas' offense, but he doesn't always make himself the focal point. Too often, the slender 7-foot center gets pushed around in the post. Michigan State freshman Adam Ballinger once shoved him from one end of the lane to the other. Kansas coach Roy Williams had to make a choice heading into Wednesday's game against Penn. Should he start Chenowith or go with high-flying freshman forward Drew Gooden? He talked to Chenowith before playing Penn, and the attempt to inspire Chenowith worked as he scored 14 points and had three blocks in the victory. Colorado is up next this weekend and Williams said he hasn't decided who will start. It may not matter, with Chenowith playing 24 minutes to Gooden's 19 against the Quakers. But the principle of being taken out of the starting lineup could seriously bruise Chenowith's confidence. "There's no doubt that was a concern," Williams said. "But at the same time, I've got to make decisions that aren't easy. Last year, we took Kenny Gregory out for a few games. (Chenowith) played much better against Penn and he was more active and his concentration level was up. He was also the defensive player of the game. But it's something we'll constantly re-evaluate. Dean Smith told me that you've got to consider the individual off the court but on the court you've got to do what's best for the team." Williams could make the switch but he'll still need Chenowith over the long haul in the Big 12. Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are all more physical than the Jayhawks. The Jayhawks will need Chenowith to be a factor if they're going to win the league.
Weekly chatter
Recker, who joined practice late last month, will be eligible in January of 2001, unless he wins an appeal to play next fall. Iowa officials told ESPN.com that the appeal probably won't be heard until the summer, possibly as late as the fall. Recker is hoping the NCAA will look kindly on him after his girlfriend was paralyzed in a car accident last summer. He said he transferred from Arizona to Iowa after one semester to be closer to her during rehabilitation.
The Minutemen will go longer with Flint than they normally would with another coach in trouble. Athletics director Bob Marcum is still very close with former coach John Calipari, and listens to his advice on the subject. Calipari is very protective of Flint, as well. Flint was given an impossible situation, following in Calipari's Final-Four footsteps. But even Calipari might have had the same struggles getting Lari Ketner to perform a year ago. His subpar season had a direct affect on the Minutemen finishing under .500. If Flint is let go, he'll have a home with Calipari whenever he receives a high-profile college job. Calipari is presently an assistant with the 76ers but told ESPN.com that he wants a college job in the spring, if one with national-title potential becomes open.
Andy Katz's Weekly Word on college basketball runs every Thursday during the season.
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