Update: UCLA says backpack-gate now closed.
News out of Los Angeles is that UCLA officials are looking into the Gucci backpack that Shabazz Muhammad was sporting during post-game interviews after the Bruins beat host Arizona on Thursday night.
ESPN Los Angeles reported that school compliance officials are investigating the matter.
Most UCLA athletes use school-issued backpacks that include the school logo, the sport they play and their uniform number. Muhammad, however, was sporting what appeared to be a Gucci backpack. The Gucci website shows men’s backpacks ranging in price from $990 to $2,370.
Nobody asked Muhammad about the backpack during the interview session, so it’s unclear if it’s real or a knockoff or how a college student came about owning such a pricey bag. Howland declined to say whether the issue was being overblown.
Meanwhile, Muhammad’s sister took to twitter to claim that she bought the backpack as a gift for her brother.
Pat Forde’s column on Muhammad after UCLA’s win over Arizona brought the subject to light.
His sis is a professional tennis player with a shoe sponsor that also sponsors UCLA. Not all black college students are from poor families.