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| | Tuesday, January 11 | |||||
ESPN.com | ||||||
| UCLA's coaching staff doesn't expect suspended guard JaRon Rush to return to the
team this season.
And, apparently, Rush isn't anticipating a quick end to his
indefinite suspension, either.
The reason for the delay stems from UCLA's meticulous investigation. Sources indicated the school will wait to forward its report to the NCAA until it is confident there is no wrongdoing on the part of the Bruins. UCLA wants to ensure lack of institutional control isn't an issue in the Rush case. The school is taking precautions to avoid any penalty after a recruiting violation in 1996 cost former coach Jim Harrick his job. UCLA could turn in its report as early as the end of next week but the NCAA will probably take a few weeks before ruling on Rush's eligibility. Even then, Rush would likely appeal any penalty, pushing the decision into late February or early March. Redshirting this season could be an option for the 6-foot-6 sophomore, depending on the severity of the penalty. Sources said UCLA's coaching staff is wary of bringing Rush back for fear of upsetting team chemistry. The Bruins, who split last week's Pac-10 road trip in Washington, have been starting Ray Young in Rush's absence and Rico Hines has also benefited from more playing time. Rush was suspended Dec. 11 after federal investigators interviewed him on campus during their investigation of alleged tax evasion by Rush's former AAU coach Myron Piggie Sr., of Kansas City. Investigators were following up on testimony Rush provided to a Kansas City grand jury in November. Sources have told ESPN.com that during his grand jury testimony, Rush admitted to accepting extra benefits from Piggie prior to enrolling at UCLA two years ago. He also admitted to taking $200 from Los Angeles-based agent Jerome Stanley, a charge Stanley has since denied. Rush was also given extra benefits from Kansas City-based benefactor Tom Grant, according to reports in the new book "Sole Influence," which investigates the relationship shoe companies have with high school and college basketball. The NCAA cleared Rush to play at UCLA after Grant was considered to have a pre-existing relationship with Rush. Rush, the Bruins' leading rebounder last season, returned to Kansas City for the holidays but came back to UCLA on Sunday. Observers described him as upbeat about being back with the team. But Rush isn't mentally ready to return to playing basketball this season, according to one source at UCLA. Rush could face a hefty financial penalty if the NCAA looks at his case in a similar light to his brother, Missouri freshman Kareem Rush, and former AAU teammate Andre Williams of Oklahoma State. Kareem had to pay back $1,800 (to charity) and is sitting out nine games for a similar offense. He'll be eligible Jan. 29 against Texas A&M.Williams, a freshman forward, was suspended for the year for accepting $20,000 in tuition money from Grant to attend Maine Central Institute last year. Williams was told to repay the money by the NCAA, but Oklahoma State is appealing the penalty. Sources said JaRon Rush's financial extra benefits fall in between Kareem Rush's and Williams' figures.
Kelly situation far from resolved But even when the paperwork is completed, he's far from being in shape enough to contribute on the floor. Kelly, a highly touted shooting guard from San Bernardino Junior College (Calif.), has practiced for five days but Bayno said his conditioning would have prevented him from playing Monday night against Brigham Young (even if he were eligible). Kelly's status for Saturday's game at Air Force and Monday's at New Mexico is doubtful. Bayno said there's no telling when the grade will be posted. The Rebels lost to BYU in the Mountain West opener Monday. But Bayno couldn't coach the game -- he was serving a one-game suspension for missing a conference meeting in October. "It's still a wide-open race," Bayno said. "It's a four-team race and BYU and New Mexico have the upper hand after getting road wins." The Lobos upset Colorado State on Monday in Fort Collins, Colo. Utah also won on the road Monday, beating cellar-dweller San Diego State.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. | ALSO SEE UCLA's Rush: 'I'm just a stupid kid' Weekly Watch: Parity party Daily Word: Swift remains LSU's key | |||||
