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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Louisville Declared Ineligible, Just Like Gervin--(Sept. 23, 1998)

Now here's something that we're pretty certain Louisville coach Denny Crum didn't warn SoCal recruit Caleb Gervin about when he signed his national letter of intent last spring: That the NCAA was looking into banning the men's basketball program from post-season play because of rules violations committed by the program. And if he did mention it, we're sure it didn't get top billing in his efforts to recruit Caleb to the school, located in Kentucky.

Gervin signed with the Cardinals last spring, but failed to get a passing score on his SAT, but nevertheless decided to enroll as a Prop. 48 student, and will red-shirt this year. He averaged about 32 ppg and 9 assists per game this last season, and was probably double-teamed in almost every game he played in. He had highs of a 52 point, 14 rebound, 11 assist, 10 steal performance and a 49 point, 12 rebound, 15 assist and 11 steal performance. Some considered him the best recruit in the class at his position this year from the West Coast.

Well, yesterday the NCAA announced that it would ban the Louisville men's basketball team from postseason play for one year, and announced that it had placed the school on three years' probation because of rules violations. The nine violations in the men's basketball and women's volleyball programs involved extra benefits, recruiting, financial aid, institutional control and ethical conduct.

The Division I Committee on Infractions handed down other penalties as well, including a reduction of scholarships in both sports. The volleyball team forfeited three scholarships over the next two years, the basketball program one each the next two seasons. The basketball program's postseason ban also will include this year's Conference USA Tournament.

The University really didn't fight the penalities: "We had nearly 100 percent agreement with the NCAA enforcement staff on all facts of the case," university president John Shumaker said. "The NCAA's response has been tough but the sanctions are fair and I respect their conclusions."

The allegations came to light early last year and, following an investigation that produced hundreds of pages of testimony, the NCAA in April issued a formal letter of inquiry into both programs. Louisville was placed on probation for two years in 1996 after an investigation unearthed questions concerning former player Samaki Walker's use of two cars in 1995. Because the new violation involving the basketball program occurred within five years of the starting date of the previous penalties, the committee applied its repeat-violator provisions to the case, said Bonnie Slatton, the committee's acting chair. "It's fair to say the (postseason) ban was primarily because of the repeat violator status," Slatton said. "Under the repeat-violator penalties, we could prohibit all competition for two years in a sport. We chose not to do that."

Gervin really won't be affected because he is red-shirting this year. But the penalties are certain to affect Louisville's recruiting for years to come.