OT - Chicago Sun-Times report on shady hoops recruiting

Submitted by rdlwolverine on

The Chicago Sun-TImes is reporting that the father of highly recruited Chicago area hoopster is seeking big bucks for a commitment.  The reports from three sources surfaced after the kid reduced his list to Kentucky, Syracuse and Ohio State.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/preps/2571594,CST-SPT-cruit06.article

The player's AAU coach is former Michigan football and basketball player, Tai Streets.  Kentucky and the father have issued denials.

MAgoBLUE

August 6th, 2010 at 12:07 PM ^

I didn't get the impression from the article that Cuse was involved in a bidding war.  All it said was that representitives from the 3 schools have confirmed to the Sun Times that the kid's dad asked for money.  If Cuse is recruiting a kid who asks for money that's not their fault.  All they can do is say no thanks and let the appropriate authorities know, which it seems like they did.

8manDoc

August 6th, 2010 at 12:58 PM ^

Cuse and Boeheim has run afoul of the NCAA before, in the late 80's. Either 88-89, there were a rash of illegal co-signed car loans, which lead to the dismissal of basketball players and the forfeiting of an NCAA lacrosse championship. Just saying

MAgoBLUE

August 6th, 2010 at 1:48 PM ^

I was apparently talking without knowing any facts.  I found this NYT article from 1992 about major violations within the Cuse basketball program:

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/02/sports/colleges-ncaa-calls-a-two-year…

Maybe it's because Boeheim gives off that grandfatherly vibe and is in the HOF that I assumed the program was always clean

8manDoc

August 6th, 2010 at 2:52 PM ^

What a great read, like a trip down memory lane. Funny that the article doesn't mentioning the vacating of the lacrosse title, which is what really pissed (and still does) people off around here.

Having met Boeheim and seen his players, I think he runs a class program. Unfortunately, basketball recruiting is as sleazy as it ever was, and AAU doesn't help. But I'm not gonna hold my breath for the NC$$ to do anything.

dahblue

August 6th, 2010 at 12:30 PM ^

Don't ignore OSU in this situation.  While I can't imagine they would pay $200K for a player, they are known by other programs as being "dirty".  It is a fairly regular practice for heavily recruited basketball players to demand bits of money along the recruiting trail.  This isn't Escalade money, but it's usually an family member or friend requesting, say, $2K for the recruit to open a letter...$1K for a recruit to return a phone call...$3K for a recruit to accept an in-home visit.  The demands drip during the entire process.  OSU, from what I've heard, is not above fulfilling those demands.

blueheron

August 6th, 2010 at 12:58 PM ^

At the Freep, Mark Snyder is hard at work on a column where he'll blame RichRod's lack of Family Values for retroactively tainting Tai Streets *and* causing all the trouble with the Davises and Kentucky.

Michigan4Life

August 6th, 2010 at 2:04 PM ^

surprise that basketball recruiting is dirty?  I know a couple of players(not playing for Michigan) who told me that they have been offerred money to commit to their schools.  It's pretty prevalent in basketball recruiting.

Zone Left

August 6th, 2010 at 3:15 PM ^

I've always wondered who has enough spare cash lying around to pay 200K to a high schooler.  There can only be two or three alumni from most schools with the combination of cash and "morals" required to payoff an 18 year old.

Hannibal.

August 6th, 2010 at 3:18 PM ^

When I read about basketball recruiting, I feel like I need to take a shower immediately afterward.  The worst part about it is hearing that these AAU coaches are often in on it and making money by acting as the kids' gatekeepers.  And then there are the parents who use their kids to make money. 

jmblue

August 6th, 2010 at 3:34 PM ^

I'm convinced that the entire AAU system is broken beyond repair.  Just scrap it entirely.  That alone would dramatically clean up basketball recruiting.