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.
Kansas officials confirmed that they were looking into a USA Today report that Ben McLemore’s former AAU was paid cash and other benefits to persuade McLemore to leave Kansas after one season and declare for the NBA draft.
The coach, St. Louis-based Darius Cobb, said Rodney Blackstock, CEO of Hooplife Academy, paid him a total of $10,000 and sent he and McLemore’s cousin to meetings with agents and others hoping to represent McLemore.
McLemore’s cousin, Richard Boyd, denied going, but Cobb provided photos of the two on trips, according to USA Today.
These payments could have implications for McLemore’s amateur status.
“Late this afternoon we received an inquiry regarding the relationship between the family of Ben McLemore and a third party, Rodney Blackstock,” Kansas athletic director Sheahon Zenger said in a news release. “This was the first time this inquiry had been presented to us.
“In accordance with the conditions and obligations of its membership in the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference, the University of Kansas will review the information and process it with both of those entities if necessary. We are not in a position to comment further at this time.”
McLemore, a Wooden Award finalist, is projected as the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com.
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.
Kansas officials confirmed that they were looking into a USA Today report that Ben McLemore’s former AAU was paid cash and other benefits to persuade McLemore to leave Kansas after one season and declare for the NBA draft.
The coach, St. Louis-based Darius Cobb, said Rodney Blackstock, CEO of Hooplife Academy, paid him a total of $10,000 and sent he and McLemore’s cousin to meetings with agents and others hoping to represent McLemore.
McLemore’s cousin, Richard Boyd, denied going, but Cobb provided photos of the two on trips, according to USA Today.
These payments could have implications for McLemore’s amateur status.
“Late this afternoon we received an inquiry regarding the relationship between the family of Ben McLemore and a third party, Rodney Blackstock,” Kansas athletic director Sheahon Zenger said in a news release. “This was the first time this inquiry had been presented to us.
“In accordance with the conditions and obligations of its membership in the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference, the University of Kansas will review the information and process it with both of those entities if necessary. We are not in a position to comment further at this time.”
McLemore, a Wooden Award finalist, is projected as the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com.
