Despite Sanctions, Arizona Still Recruiting Hard | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Friday / March 29.
  • Despite Sanctions, Arizona Still Recruiting Hard

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    Despite the loss of one future scholarship due to a recruiting violation, Arizona is still “battling at the highest level” for 2010 prospects Doron Lamb, Josh Selby and Kadeem Jack, a source close to the Arizona basketball program said. 

    The source said Arizona would lose the scholarship for the 2011 class and would still theoretically have enough room for all three players should they elect to come play for the Wildcats.

    The 6-4 Lamb (pictured), a Queens, N.Y. native playing at Oak Hill Academy, recently cut his list to Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky and West Virginia. A McDonald’s All-American, Lamb is expected to announce after the NCAA tournament.

    The 6-2 Selby, out of Lake Baltimore (Md.) Clifton, is considering several schools, including Arizona, Syracuse, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and UConn. Sources indicate Arizona and Kansas lead.

    The 6-9 Jack from Manhattan Rice is still in the early stages of his recruitment, but recently took his first official visit to the Arizona campus.

    FoxSports.com reported that Arizona is expected to self-impose sanctions that include the loss of a future scholarship and a reduction of recruiting days in July and in on-campus official visits. An official announcement could come Friday, FoxSports.com reported.

    The violations are connected to an AAU basketball tournament known as the Cactus Classic, held in May 2008 at Arizona’s McKale Center.

    The school reported the possible NCAA recruiting violation by coach Lute Olson, who called it “an unfortunate and regrettable error,” in September 2008.

    Olson had sent a letter to basketball boosters asking for a donation to the Cactus Classic. NCAA rules prohibit institutional representatives or boosters from arranging financial assistance for potential recruits.

    Olson denied knowledge of the letter being sent and later issued a retraction, saying he had not seen or approved the document.

    “This is an unfortunate and regrettable error,” he said in a statement. “We have always prided ourselves on operating within NCAA rules and regulations.”

    (Wire services contributed)

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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