post icon

Did Derrick Rose Cheat on His SAT?; Famous Situation Up in the Air; Rutgers Wins in Canary Islands

By Adam Zagoria on May 28, 2009, 10:24AM

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that one of Derrick Rose’s former  Chicago Simeon teammates may have taken his SAT for him.

‘‘ [The NCAA] thinks that [former Simeon player Kevin Johnson] took [the SAT test] for him,” Luther Topps, who coached Rose’s club basketball team with Derrick’s brother Reggie, told the newspaper.

Topps said he and Simeon coach Robert Smith don’t know anything firsthand.

‘‘[Smith and I] didn’t know anything about his test,’’ Topps said. ‘‘Reggie moved me and him out of the way long before that, as soon as the money got involved.’’

The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported Wednesday that the NCAA is investigating major violations at Memphis during the 2007-08 season, Rose’s only year at the school. Rose just finished his first season in the NBA with the Bulls. The player’s name is redacted throughout the NCAA letter, which you can read here.

The Commercial Appeal reported that the individual involved denied the charge through university personnel.

If the allegations are proven true, Memphis could forfeit its 38 wins and Final Four appearance from that season, marking the second time John Calipari would have had to do that. His 1996 Final Four with UMass was also forfeited.

Memphis head coach Josh Pastner and the current team reportedly face no repercussions, but you have to wonder how these charges might impact recruiting.  Will potential recruits shy away from Memphis given what has happened? Will Memphis be extra cautious when dealing with, say, Lance Stephenson, who has his own baggage to deal with?

Calipari, who led Memphis to the 2008 NCAA title game and then took the Kentucky job March 31, said he would cooperate with the investigation.

“Even though I’m not at risk, I will fully cooperate with the NCAA hearing. Beyond that, I concur with the statement from the University of Kentucky and will have no further comment,” he said.

FAMOUS SITUATION UP IN THE AIR

The appears to be some mixed signals coming out of the Jarrid Famous camp.

His father, Jerome, is on record saying that his son will play for South Florida next year.

“He’s never complained about USF to me,” Jerome Famous told the Tampa Tribune.

Yet Westchester Community College assistant Mickey Carey says Famous wants to get out of his letter of intent because the staff lost two coaches after Famous committed and the situation is not “stable.”

“He’s still trying to get out of his letter of intent,” Carey said by phone. “His father believes he’s still going.

“Jarrid still has to speak with the AD at South Florida and hopefully that will be enough to resolve the matter.”

Asked when that might be, Carey said: “Before the end of the week for sure. We don’t have a lot of time.”

The 6-11 Famous averaged 25.2 points and 13.7 rebounds last year at WCC. He chose USF over Arizona, Seton Hall and Missouri and could end up at Arizona if he gets out. If he doesn’t get out and chooses not to attend South Florida, he’ll have to sit out the year and play somewhere beginning in 2010.

“If he gets out he’s going to explore his options,” Carey said. “Of course he’s going to look back at the schools that were already looking at  him. He’s looking for a stable situation and the South Florida situation is not stable. This young man only has two years.”

South Florida head coach Stan Heath will reportedly visit with Famous on Sunday. Famous has not returned messages left on his cell.

RUTGERS WINS IN SPAIN

Pat Jackson had 22 points and seven rebounds to lead Rutgers to a 72-61 victory over the Canarias Basketball Academy on Wednesday in the Canary Islands.

Hamady N’Diaye added 12 points and Greg Echenique had 10 points and nine rebounds. Mike Coburn dished out 10 assists and Florida transfer Jonathan Mitchell had nine points on 4-of-9 shooting in his first official Rutgers game.

Per FIBA rules, the teams played four 10-minute quarters and with a 24-second shot clock.

“It was a different style of play and I thought we responded well,” said head coach Fred Hill. “The 24-second shot clock and the way travelling is called is much, much different. The speed and quickness of the decision making was new and it showed early, but we adjusted very well. It was nice to get Jonathan (Mitchell) out there for the first time. We played everyone. It was different, but it was a great experience for our guys.”

The Knights are playing four games in four days on this trip.

(Photo courtesy Chicago Sun-Times)

94 Comments

Leave a comment
  1. johnjohn
    May 28, 2009, 10:22PM at 10:22 pm #

    There are 3 of his HS team mates involved in teh SAT fraud. All 3 went to Div I colleges.

    1 took the test for Rose and other player.

    This is a Grade/SAT Scam ring.

  2. pastaboy
    May 29, 2009, 10:10AM at 10:10 am #

    Big Ben ….. this gimmicky offense is 139 and 13 the last 4 years …..and if you did your homework you would know that Darnell Dodson from Miami Dade shoots 43% from the trey …and was recruited specifically as a zone buster for this offense ….. stop posting ill informed dribble on here or I’ll have to continue to embarrass you .

  3. pastaboy
    May 29, 2009, 10:14AM at 10:14 am #

    Outsider …what happened when coaches of teams like Texas , Michigan , and UCLA coached against the ddm ? ..LOL …….. blowouts ….. Michigan down 30 at the half ….. Billy Donavan is a fine coach but to say this offense hasn’t been tested by top athletes and coaches is not factual …..stop posting ill informed dribble like Big Ben or I’ll have to continue to embarrass you also …..next

  4. pastaboy
    May 29, 2009, 10:24AM at 10:24 am #

    everyone on this thread needs to read this article by Mike Decourcey …………..then stop the silliness http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=553953

  5. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 10:40AM at 10:40 am #

    13-13 against non-CUSA caliber teams.

    And please, very rarely do JUCOs produce at the high D1 level. He was no where to be found on the top 100 lists coming out of high school for a reason (well a couple reasons).

  6. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 10:42AM at 10:42 am #

    His offense hasn’t been tested night-in and night-out by legitimate coaches and athletes. Since he has no idea how to adjust, I don’t see that test ending well.

  7. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 10:46AM at 10:46 am #

    Sorry, Cal was 14-10 over the last 4 years against legitimate D1 programs. Of course 8 of the wins are about to be vacated thanks to Wesley and DRose so it looks like 6-8 is going to be his record after the NCAA rules.

  8. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 10:58AM at 10:58 am #

    And outside of redneck land the term is drivel, LOL.

  9. pastaboy
    May 29, 2009, 11:16AM at 11:16 am #

    That’s true ….Cal hasn’t faced Gardner Webb yet ….. but in the past 4 years he has beaten Texas ….Alabama …U.c.l.a. (twice) ….Cincinnati (twice) Providence …Ole Miss (twice) Gonzaga (twice) Purdue….Tenn. (twice) Oklahoma …Ky….Tex a&m…U.s.c. ….Georgetown …Arizona …Michigan St….and Maryland …. by an avg. margin of 12 points …..you people who think his teams are a product of a “weak” conference are in for a rough ride on this one ….Ky. will be a dominant team in years to come …starting next Oct.

  10. pastaboy
    May 29, 2009, 11:21AM at 11:21 am #

    Inside educated land dribble indicates saliva running from the corner of the mouth as to Drool ……( hands Big Ben a tissue)

  11. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 11:23AM at 11:23 am #

    Wow. Nothing like completely failing a figure of speech.

  12. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 11:24AM at 11:24 am #

    6-8 against the top 40 the last 4 years.

  13. pastaboy
    May 29, 2009, 11:49AM at 11:49 am #

    Big Dummy ….I can assure you…U.c.l.a was ranked in the top 40 both times Memphis beat them …as was Mich. St. …… Texas (twice) ….as was Gonzaga (twice) as was Tenn. (twice) …as was Texas a&m ….. Oklahoma and U.s.c. ……Georgetown …Arizona ….try again …. you are making a fool of yourself now

  14. Outsider
    May 29, 2009, 11:51AM at 11:51 am #

    Pastaboy…

    really, embarass me. The problem with Texas, Michigan State, and oh UCLA FOR ONE YEAR is they tried to run with Memphis instead of slowing the game down into a half court set. If you watch previously in Memphis games versus UCLA, it turned into a half court game running a set offense against a sagging or match up zone and Memphis struggled mightily. Also, look at how teams that match up with Memphis in terms of athleticism have played us… we have lost a majority of those games (UAB 2 years ago, Missouri, Tennessee 2 times, Kansas.) This doesn’t even count the games that should have been lost to teams that didn’t even deserve to be on the same court as Memphis (UCF this year and last, Tulsa year in and year out, Houston, UAB.) So do not tell me I am just posting incoherent ramblings when I have stats and instances to back up my postings.

    Also, Cal is a product of a weak conference. He did not have to deal with team fatigue at the end of the season, injuries, low post battles night in and night out let alone play UT twice a year, Florida twice a year, Alabama twice a year, I can go on. There is a major differnce obviously between the two conferences. As I stated, when John Calipari has to start making adjustments, things usually do not go well for him. I have watched him for the last 9 years living in Memphis. And as I have stated before, I am not a Memphis fan. I just went to Law School at Memphis. When coaches like Billy Donovan, Trent Johnson, Anthony Grant, Darren Horn and the others actually get a shot at him twice a year, it will be a different tune. Trust me, Bruce Pearl has beaten John Calipari how many times out of the last 4? And was is the average margin of defeat? Oh, and wasn’t Memphis number one in the country and at home on their “unbeatable” court? I hate UT and I cannot stand the SEC but I am stating fact here. And if you are really a John Calipari fan, watch the bench… figure out who the real coach is on that team and get back to me. There is a reason John Robic hasn’t left John Calipari and he is taken care of better than most head coaches in America. So do not come on here and disrespect and try and knock what I say when it is a proven fact and Memphis’ history against teams that run a match up or sagging zone defense or teams that match up athletically with Memphis.

    Last, don’t compare the Memphis versus Michigan State, Texas etc… That is like stating the obvious about the Florida versus Ohio State national championship game in football. If Michigan State tries to slow the game down or bang down low like Mississippi State did with Memphis as well as UTSA that year, its a different story folks. ALSO…. GET IT RIGHT, IT WASN’T MICHIGAN, IT WAS MICHIGAN STATE. It’s called proofreading bud, or is it your “dribble” that is incoherent.

  15. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 12:01PM at 12:01 pm #

    Interesting debate style. Now, as I explained, vacate the 2007-08 wins and you come to 6-8.

  16. pastaboy
    May 29, 2009, 12:11PM at 12:11 pm #

    LOL ……. Outsider …… that rambling post makes absolutely no sense ….you have an excuse for every game Cal won against top competition ….read my list …he beat them all… every major conference ….and he beat them badly ….he has better athletes … and the ddm offense is light years ahead of the old screen and roll stuff that was being played with peach baskets ….. the “weak ” conference argument will get blown away next year by KY. ….and btw …he’s 2 and 2 against Pearl …who is a great coach ….. bottom line …Calipari is 446 and 139 …..only Roy Williams has won more games in his 1st 17 years of coaching …..

  17. pastaboy
    May 29, 2009, 12:14PM at 12:14 pm #

    uh Big …..vacate the 2007 /08 wins against top 40 …and you lose one game …Tenn ….. and that’s not 6 and 8 …try again …but this time try doing some research instead of throwing out numbers ( hands Big another tissue) …besides …. as of now ….2007/2008 has not been vacated …. nor will it

  18. pastaboy
    May 29, 2009, 12:22PM at 12:22 pm #

    Also Ben …vacating the 07/08 season would eliminate 4 losses to top 40 …… math isn’t your strong suit is it?

  19. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 12:26PM at 12:26 pm #

    What is this “dribble” you speak of. In 2007-2008, Memphis beat Oklahoma, UConn, USC, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Mississippi St, Mich St, Texas and UCLA and lost to Tennessee and Kansas.

    2008: 9-2 against the top 40 (though you don’t vacate the losses).

    2009: 2-4 (Ls to Xavier, Georgetown, Syracuse and Missouri. Ws against Tenn and Gonzaga)
    2007: 2-4 (Ls to GTech, Tenn, Arizona and Ohio State. Ws against Kentucky and Texas A&M)
    2006: 3-3 (Ls to Duke, Texas and UCLA. Ws against UCLA, Tenn and Bradley).

    So, after vacating 2008s wins, Cal is 7-13 against top 40 teams. You should have stuck with my quick glance 6-8 record, LOL.

  20. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 12:26PM at 12:26 pm #

    Why would you eliminate losses? You only forfeit wins, dribbler.

  21. pastaboy
    May 29, 2009, 12:40PM at 12:40 pm #

    Ben …..in 2006 Memphis also beat Oklahoma and Texas A&m … I could go through your entire list but this is becoming boring now ….you got caught in a lie …admit it …apologize to the thread ….and please know that if you continue to post non factual info here I will correct you ….you have no formal education do you Ben?

  22. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 12:46PM at 12:46 pm #

    Someone should inform Memphis that they played those teams in 05-06, LOL. Keep digging (or maybe dribbling), it’s kind of cute to see you flailing away like this.

    http://www.gotigersgo.com/sports/m-baskbl/archive/mem-m-baskbl-sched-2005.html

  23. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 12:51PM at 12:51 pm #

    Memphis indeed played Oklahoma in 2006-2007 but they weren’t in the top 40 that year.

  24. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 12:55PM at 12:55 pm #

    Not to mention Memphis only lost twice in 07-08.

  25. pastaboy
    May 29, 2009, 1:05PM at 1:05 pm #

    Oklahoma was 17th that year ….also Bradley wasn’t played that year …..

  26. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 1:15PM at 1:15 pm #

    Wow.

    In 2006-2007 Oklahoma’s record was 16-15. That’s obviously not a top 40 team (and certainly nowhere near #17, LOL).

    http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/conferences/standings?confId=8&year=2007

    Seriously man, take a play or two off. You’re not helping the Kentucky intellectual stereotype here.

  27. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 1:18PM at 1:18 pm #

    And they indeed played Bradley in the 2005-2006 Sweet 16. You are looking up results for Memphis University and not the Memphis Grizzlies, right?

  28. pastaboy
    May 29, 2009, 2:46PM at 2:46 pm #

    Ben according to your logic …Urban Meyer has never won a NC at Florida ….because after all ….those teams may have played an ineligible player and their victories could be vacated …..you got caught in a lie Ben ….the 6 and 8 lie …and now you look like a child …..you have no formal education do you Ben?

  29. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 2:57PM at 2:57 pm #

    I look like a child for proving you unable to perform a successful google search?

    My 6-8 was admittedly a quick estimation that ended up a bit off. Calipari actually will have a much worse 7-13 record against the top 40. That said, your attempts at proving mistakes in my research have been themselves comically inaccurate (Oklahoma finished 16-15 but was the #17 team in the nation? UK didn’t play Bradley in the 05-06 season? You forfeit loses as well as wins when you’re found to be cheating?). In fact, you’ve yet to make a valid point at all.

    Again, for the love of Wildcat Nation, stop perpetuating the headstrong redneck stereotype.

  30. ChrisMullin
    May 29, 2009, 3:04PM at 3:04 pm #

    ha. pasta’s getting schooled by a child. reminds me of the old days.

  31. pastaboy
    May 29, 2009, 3:14PM at 3:14 pm #

    7 and 13 against top 40 but doesn’t include this past season of 9 and 2? LOL …because you say that will be vacated? …..that’s childish logic …you got caught in a lie …..your stats are inaccurate …and you have no formal education

  32. pastaboy
    May 29, 2009, 3:15PM at 3:15 pm #

    Nurse ….show in the next un- educated troll please ( busy day)

  33. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 3:19PM at 3:19 pm #

    Vacating the 2007-08 season is certainly possible if not probable at this point.

    The fact of the matter is, besides one year played with an ineligible player, Calipari’s Memphis teams weren’t anything to write home about, certainly nothing to make someone think he was capable of a bigger job. Heck, even if the NCAA doesn’t yank the 07-08 record, 16-15 isn’t at all impressive.

    Care to go through a list of coaches with more than 16 top 40 wins in the last 4 years? We may be here a while.

  34. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 3:22PM at 3:22 pm #

    I’ll start with a fairly obscure one- Mike Anderson at Missouri had 11 top 40 wins last season alone. Only 4 the year before though (still more than Cal in any 1 year besides 08) and 2 the year before that. So there you go, Mike Anderson has 17 top 40 wins in the last 3 years (in case you missed it Cal has 16 in the last 4 years).

  35. johnjohn
    May 29, 2009, 3:29PM at 3:29 pm #

    The Chicago Newspapers are over this story. They are not saying if Rose did the Grade Change. They are flat out saying that he was involved.

    And now the newspapers have said that they know who actually who took the SATs. I find that a little hard to believe.

    BUT… this is a summary of what has been reported in the Tribune and Sun papers.

    This is bigger than Memphis and Rose.

    Rose and 3 of his high school team mates worked together to cheat on SATs and to change their grades via a computer system so that the NCAA would get the wrong information so that 3 of the kids could play college basketball.

    There are 2 colleges and the NCAA that are involved. It appears that neither the NCAA that clears the kids to play nor either school nor staff new about this.

  36. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 3:30PM at 3:30 pm #

    How about we look at another ‘accused’ cheater. This time Tim Floyd of USC.

    06: 4 top 40 Ws
    07: 5 top 40 Ws
    08: 4 top 40 Ws
    09: 7 top 40 Ws

    So yep, Tim Floyd has (allegedly) cheated his way to more top 40 wins as well. Cal’s not even the best cheater in D1 hoops.

  37. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 3:34PM at 3:34 pm #

    Here’s one. I frequently travel to Chicago and work with quite a few Illinois graduates. They are about 50/50 as to whether Bruce Weber should retain his job at UI. Let’s see how he fares:

    06: 9 Top 40 Ws
    07: 3 top 40 Ws
    08: 1 top 40 Ws
    09: 6 top 40 Ws

    So yeah, even a guy that half the fan base at Illinois wants to can has 19 top 40 victories in the last 4 years (Cal, remember, has 16 even if the NCAA doesn’t vacate 9 of them).

  38. pastaboy
    May 29, 2009, 4:48PM at 4:48 pm #

    Calipari is 436 and 139 Ben ….139 and 13 the past 4 years ….. the highest paid coach in college basketball ….. he’s just coming into his prime ….. parse the record all you want …. it’ll make you look even more foolish ….Ky. will be ranked number 1 starting the season ….Cal may run the table …40 and 0 and win a NC ….LOL …wouldn’t want to be you Ben

  39. Big Ben
    May 29, 2009, 5:10PM at 5:10 pm #

    123 of his wins in the last 4 years were against teams no better than what would comprise the bottom 3 of the SEC. And cheating to do it.

    2006: 33-4, 3-3 vs top 40
    2007: 33-4, 2-4 vs top 40
    2008: 38-2, 9-2 vs top 40
    2009: 33-4, 2-4 vs top 40

    Overall: 137-14, 16-13 vs top 40, which will include 5 or 6 SEC teams in any given year. Extrapolate that 16-13 out and assume he now plays 10 of these games in conference per year, you win 6 and lose 4 of these games in an average year. My guess is Tennessee and Florida, with their current coaches in place, will beat that record most years in conference.

  40. jhawk4
    May 30, 2009, 1:35AM at 1:35 am #

    Big Ben wins this argument in dominating fashion. nice.

  41. pastaboy
    May 30, 2009, 12:10PM at 12:10 pm #

    Big Ben is a hater of successful people ….. Cal is the best coach in basketball now …..the fans know it ….the recruits know it ….the press knows it …. and next year when Ky. is dominating the SEC ….people like Big Ben will be nowhere to be seen or heard ……unless its to provide meaningless statistics skewed to favor whatever illogical assumtion he is promoting that day …… must suck to be you Ben ….no money …no hair ….hater of successful people …LOL

  42. pastaboy
    May 30, 2009, 12:30PM at 12:30 pm #

    extrapolate this …… Memphis in the last 4 years is 14 and 3 against the SEC …..more to come at KY.

  43. Big Ben
    May 30, 2009, 1:20PM at 1:20 pm #

    LOL. Iraqi Information Minister is in the house.

  44. ChrisMullin
    May 30, 2009, 1:27PM at 1:27 pm #

    Sweet Jeebus, this is impressive even for an anonymous message board. I’d give 2-1 odds that pastaboy is AZ throwing ridiculous comments at the wall to promote traffic. 93 comments so far, it seems to be working.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.