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