Federal authorities are expected to meet with the NCAA on Dec. 29 and reveal pertinent information gathered during interviews with Piggie's former players -- UCLA sophomore JaRon Rush, Missouri freshman Kareem Rush and Oklahoma State freshman Andre Williams.

All three players were suspended by their respective schools over the past 10 days after federal authorities provided information to the schools about potential extra benefits the players received while playing for Piggie's Children's Mercy Hospital 76ers prior to their enrollment in college.

Piggie told ESPN.com last week that he never paid a player during their college careers but was given "an open checkbook," to recruit players for the AAU team by his sponsor, Kansas City-based businessman Tom Grant.

While sources told ESPN.com that the three schools suspended the players because they received extra benefits while on the AAU team, a pre-existing relationship with Piggie will likely prevent those benefits from being construed as NCAA violations.

All three players were suspended, not ruled ineligible. If they were declared ineligible, they would need to be reinstated by the NCAA. Sources told ESPN.com that Kareem Rush might be declared ineligible late Monday night, but the school would ask for an immediate reinstatement by the NCAA.

However, such a ruling would simply be a formality for Missouri to be in line with NCAA procedures. ESPN.com has learned that Rush could be reinstated by Missouri as early as Tuesday -- whether he's ruled ineligible or not -- in time for the Tigers' game against Illinois in St. Louis.

By declaring Rush ineligble rather than just having his suspension lifted, Missouri would be bringing the NCAA into the situation to protect itself from future NCAA repercussions. The NCAA is serving an advisory role to the respective schools in this case.

Sources confirmed that Missouri athletics director Mike Alden met with federal authorities Monday about the Rush situation. He was in constant contact with the NCAA to ensure that the Tigers had acted appropriately in suspending Rush, and had done everything correct before reinstating him. Rush, a starting small forward, sat out Saturday's win over Iowa.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma State assistant coach Sean Sutton said that Williams traveled with the team to Seattle and practiced Monday in preparation for Tuesday's game against Washington. He sat out Saturday's win at UNLV.

JaRon Rush's situation isn't as clear. Sources told ESPN.com last week that Rush admitted to a grand jury last month that he accepted benefits from Piggie as well as $200 from Los Angeles-based sports agent Jerome Stanley. Stanley has since denied his involvement to the Los Angeles media.

He didn't return phone calls to ESPN.com.

Rush is at home in Kansas City while the Bruins are in Hawaii for the Pearl Harbor Classic. He is expected to return to Los Angeles after Christmas. UCLA coach Steve Lavin said he could be allowed to practice when he returns. Rush could be back in the Bruins' lineup against Pepperdine on Dec. 28. To play that soon, Rush likely would need to reimburse the agent, if it's proven that he took the money. Like his brother Kareem and Williams, he would also have to be cleared of any wrongdoing prior to his enrollment in college.

The NCAA isn't investigating any of the players, but is taking information gathered by federal authorities looking into Piggie. Piggie told ESPN.com that he hasn't talked to the FBI. Piggie spent three seasons coaching the CMH 76ers, but stopped due to two deaths in his family after the summer of 1998.

Sources confirmed that federal authorities have at least one more stop on their tour of former CMH 76er players. That could be a visit to either Florida and Connecticut (or both), where three players had brief stints on Piggie's team. Florida sophomores Mike Miller and LaDarius Halton played on the team for a tournament in the spring of '97. Connecticut sophomore Ajou Deng played for a tournament the same summer.

The NCAA isn't forcing Florida or Connecticut to hold the players out of competition, but if those players are connected to any potential wrongdoing, the NCAA could pose retroactive sanctions if any of the players were proven to be professional athletes by virtue of payments.

The NCAA's committee studying college basketball reviewed extra benefits within AAU teams last summer, but failed to come up with a resolution. Sources close to the situation said the NCAA intends to look at reviewing the extra benefits players receive from AAU teams and sponsors prior to their enrollment in college. The problem lies with enforcing the issue and proving pre-existing relationships a coach or booster might have with a player. In this case, the NCAA is taking information gathered by the federal authorities, who have subpoena power.

In an unrelated matter, Missouri reinstated starting forward Johnny Parker for the Illinois game after he was suspended for the Iowa game for academic problems.