Update: First impression, this doesn’t look like a huge deal to me. It would depend if Wall took money knowing that his AAU coach was a certified agent. And who paid for Wall to attend those UK functions, both of which occurred well before Calipari became coach, by the way. So this issue would be present even if Billy Gillispie was still the Kentucky coach. Still, it wouldn’t surprise me if Wall has to sit 2-3 games. But that’s just a first impression.
SEC commissioner Mike Slive confirmed to espn.com that UK freshman John Wall is facing an eligibility issue.
Sources told ESPN that the issue concerns Wall’s former AAU coach.
An excerpt:
A source told ESPN.com that the Kentucky compliance department had been working feverishly to clarify Wall’s eligibility in recent weeks and had been going back to the 2007 to see exactly how much money is owed. Wall made two unofficial visits to Kentucky that fall while Billy Gillispie was head coach — in September he attended a UK-Louisville basketball game and in October returned for the Wildcats’ Big Blue Madness opening night practice.
It’s interesting to me that, while the university can’t comment on a player’s eligibility, the SEC commissioner seems to have free rein to talk about whatever he pleases.
All Slive did was confirm that it’s been investigated. He didn’t give details. But that’s a good point.
John, as a journalist, what’s your take on this “story”? Seems to me that Forde and O’Neil are the usual suspects when it comes to making mountains out of molehills with regard to UK basketball. The same could be said for your colleague, Jerry.
While I don’t subscribe to the conspiracy theories that many UK fans do, I do think it’s embarrassing that so-called professionals have such clear agendas.
Perhaps I overstated Slive’s comments a bit, but in general, I don’t think it’s his place to comment on eligibility issues when institutions don’t.
Here’s the way I foresee this whole event taking place. The NCAA will hold Wall out for a few games at most, then tell him and the university he’s alright to play. A year or so from now the ncaa will say, “no no, we weren’t really sure, so now you have to vacate every win in which Wall played”. If I were Coach Cal I would only play Wall if (and that’s a big if) the other team is completely blowing out UK, and let Wall go and dominate in the NBA next year. I’m sure the ncaa will be scrambling to find any dirt or reason to rule Wall ineligible after the fact.
On a side note, how long until Pat Forde goes on ESPN (with the Louisville background) and start saying that Kentucky is dirty and Wall should be ruled ineligible for the entire season. I give it until Sportscenter.
Dan, I added my early take on this to the top of the post. I don’t think it’s a big deal. I can’t see Wall being ruled ineligible for any more than 2-3 games, at most.
Look at it from Wall’s perspective. Did I take my own ACT and SAT? Do I really need UK to get to the NBA? Has my current Coach ever been to a final four that is on the record books? If I am found in-eligible how much will I get paid? Will anyone remember this crap in five years?
Better get used to seeing NCAA and Calipari in the same sentence. He may win a national championship, but it will get taken away. Take that to the bank. Wall is also not the only freshman who is going to have eligibility problems in the future. Calipari is as dirty as they come. UK has truly made a pact with the devil.
Welcome to Cal-State Kentucky. Get used to this.