This is more of a tying loose ends up note than reporting, but I’ve talked to a few folks about whether or not OSU could get hit by the NCAA for Lamont Evans, and the vibe I’ve got is that insiders at OSU feel the program should be free and clear. That’s not to say they definitely are. But two reasons why there’s optimism any serious violation allegations (i.e. a Notice of Allegations) will be avoided:
1. OSU immediately suspended Evans and subsequently canned him.
2. They suspended Jeff Carroll for three games to start the 2017, which, I’m told, was a preemptive action by the OSU athletics department to show the NCAA that it didn’t take the allegations regarding Evans (and his connection to nefarious activity while at OSU) lightly.
The problem here is the optics (emphasis on recruiting optics). Dennis Dodd reported in June that at least six programs would be hit with severe NCAA violations, and thus far, only NC State (for two ex-coaches misdeeds) and Kansas (for coach responsibility aimed at Self and lack of institutional control against KU) have received one. (Auburn has acknowledged publicly it expects one as well, which would make three).
So who are the other three?
Back to the optics: I don’t believe OSU will be among those based off what I’ve heard. But until the NCAA definitively rules OSU out (or until the remaining three are publicly hit), OSU is somewhat susceptible to negative recruiting. (I.E.: If a coach wants to tell Cade Cunningham that he could go to OSU but he may go there only to find that OSU is hit with a postseason ban, it’s totally fair game.)
Guesses on the other three:
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Arizona: Long-time Sean Miller assistant Book Richardson was charged with soliciting bribes. Recently, news broke that he paid off a high school coach of an Arizona recruit-turned-star-player to the tune of $40,000. Miller hasn’t directly been caught with a smoking gun, but he looks guilty if for no other reason than because his program was rampant with dirty deeds. Most expect Arizona to be a lock to be one of the three. ESPN reported that there are wiretaps with Miller on it discussing a $100,000 payment to ensure Deandre Ayton went to Arizona.
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USC: USC assistant Tony Bland pled guilty to felony bribery earlier this year. He avoided jail time and instead got probation, but he admitted to accepting money to steer players to certain financial advisers. Greasy (and probably against NCAA rules).
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Louisville: Rick Pitino got fired already after being ensnared in yet another scandal. But the one that got him canned – the one that alleged Adidas helped funnel $100,000 to former five-star Brian Bowen – is a cloud that won’t go away soon. Their involvement with KU and Louisville will get a closer look under the microscope by the NCAA, and I imagine they won’t like what they find.
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Miami: This has since been denied by Miami and by its coach Jim Larranaga, but federal documents released in 2017 allege that $150,000 was requested by executives at Adidas to get former five-star recruit Nassir Little to commit to Miami and, subsequently, to signing with Adidas upon the conclusion of his college career. Little wound up signing with North Carolina and – you guessed it! – Nike.
