missouri recruiting violations

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Missouri "Self-Reports" Possible
Recruiting Violations--(Oct. 3, 1999)

Missouri is recruiting Travon Bryant (6'-8" Sr. PF) from Long Beach Jordan and his cross-town rival friend and top point guard, Wesley Stokes (5'-10" Sr. PG) from Long Beach Poly. Both have played for Dinos Trigonis' Belmont Shore Basketball travel teams, and they've both expressed an interest in continuing to play together next year, if possible. Apparently Missouri is the only school that's recruiting both of them. And if they decide to take official visits there (or anywhere else for that matter) it seems fairly clear under NCAA rules that if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian on the flight, that the parent or guardian must pay his or her own way.

But Missouri apparently took a different view with two other top recruits from whom it received verbal commitments last week, chartering a plane for both the recruits and the parents, who flew together. And it doesn't matter that the two parents who took the flight also paid a "fare". The result is that Rickey Paulding (6'-5" Sr. SG/SF) from Detroit Renaissance, and Arthur Johnson (6'-9" Sr. C) from Detroit Pershing, may not be eligible next season at Missouri, and their recruitment would again be opened up.

On Friday, Missouri "self-reported" a possible NCAA recruiting violation which could potentially place the eligibility of the Tigers' first two verbal commitments at that school in jeopardy. The potential violations involve the first two players to verbally commit to Missouri this year, Rickey Paulding and Arthur Johnson. Missouri athletic director Mike Alden called the NCAA after the St. Louis Post-Dispatch raised questions about the mothers of Paulding and Johnson riding on a plane chartered by Missouri on their official visits. According to the NCAA, this is a black-and-white issue, and if a parent or guardian accompanies a student on an official visit, he or she must pay the fare on a commercial flight.

Alden said he contacted the NCAA today and asked officials to investigate "a possible infraction.'' The call followed another one Wednesday to the Big 12 Conference, which advised Missouri that it would be "beneficial" to notify the NCAA. "We don't know if an infraction has indeed taken place,'' Alden said. ``The NCAA is the only one that can determine if an infraction has taken place.''

Paulding and Johnson, both seniors from Detroit, gave verbals to Missouri last week. But now their status is in question because their mothers flew with them on a plane chartered for their official visit. "It's not permissible for the parents to fly with the prospect whether it's on the institution's plane or a noncommercial charter,'' said Steve Mallonee, director of NCAA membership services. It is permissible to fly on a commercial flight provided the parent pays his or her own fare.

NCAA rules state that a school can use commercial flights or noncommercial flights--the school's own plane, charter or private planes--to bring prospects to campus for official visits. But relatives, friends and legal guardians can accompany prospects only on commercial flights. On those flights, the prospect's fare is paid by the school. Anyone accompanying the prospect must pay his or her own way.

But Missouri officials said their interpretation of the rules was that a prospect could be accompanied on a noncommercial flight if the extra party paid fair market value for the ticket. The visits in question took place the weekend of Sept. 17-19. Alden said the mothers of both recruits prepaid between $200 and $300 for the tickets. "It's our understanding, and we're pretty confident, that a number of schools around the country do this,'' Alden said. Snyder said there's room for interpretation in any "legal documentation." The NCAA, however, said that there is no gray area on that issue. "The rule was not intended for parents to get on the plane and reimburse because then you get into, 'What is an appropriate rate?' '' Mallonee said.

"Parents are supposed to fly commercial. In most instances, kids go commercial." Alden said the university was eager to determine whether an infraction had taken place. Missouri's compliance office already had begun investigating the matter, he said "I feel confident in the process. I feel confident in our basketball program. And, I feel confident in the NCAA," Alden said. "Do I feel confident in a great result? I have no idea." Snyder said he bears responsibility if an infraction had taken place. "Unequivocally I do," he said. "I'm the head basketball coach. That's what it means to be the head coach."

NCAA spokeswoman Jane Jankowsi said that she could not confirm whether Missouri has been reported. If there is an infraction, it is also possible that Paulding and Johnson themselves could be declared ineligible before the Nov. 7 signing day. According to the NCAA, if a rule is broken, it is up to the school to report the violation, then declare the prospect ineligible to play at that school--at least temporarily or until an appeal can be heard.