College basketball corruption fallout tracker: Players suspended after latest Yahoo! bombshell

It may take months or even years for the total impact of the FBI’s expansive investigation into wide-spread corruption throughout college basketball to be clear. But it took only hours after corruption and fraud schemes involving coaches at prominent programs were detailed by a U.S. Attorney on Tuesday for the immediate aftershocks to be felt.

Here are the key developments related to the players and programs involved in the scandal:

San Diego State rules Malik Pope ineligible for ties to agency

We knew ASM sports agency was raided at the onset of the federal probe. On Feb. 23, we learned the names of the players who allegedly accepted bribes thanks to a new report from Yahoo! Sports.

San Diego State has suspended star forward Malik Pope in the wake of the report, after it said he allegedly accepted $1,400 in loans from ASM.

Pope is averaging a career-high 12.8 points per game for San Diego State this season.

UPDATE:

Malik Pope was cleared to play by San Diego State on Feb. 27, the same day the team had a game against Boise State, according to the San Diego Union Tribune. Here’s more from the Tribune’s Mark Zeigler:

What complicated SDSU’s investigation was that it could not interview Miller or Dawkins, or obtain auxiliary documents, which remain under judicial seal and were leaked to Yahoo Sports. In addition, the school had to determine if any family members or associates had received a loan from ASM unbeknownst to Pope, since the NCAA also considers that an impermissible benefit.

NCAA rules Auburn’s Austin Wiley ineligible for season

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Auburn center Austin Wiley has been ruled ineligible until the 2018-19 season following the program’s self-reported violations on recruiting, extra benefits, and agent-related activity, the NCAA has announced.

Wiley is arguably the biggest recruit in the history of Auburn basketball. The Tigers haven’t missed the five-star center early in the season. Auburn became ranked for the first time in 15 years following a 15-1 start to the season.

USC will hold De’Anthony Melton out all season

The Trojans have held out sophomore guard De’Anthony Melton all season while investigating his role in the FBI scandal. Now USC has decided Melton will not play for them this season.

Melton’s family friend reportedly received $5,000 to direct him to use a certain agent and financial service advisor when he turned pro. Melton was considered a possible first round NBA draft pick heading into the season.

Auburn suspends Danjel Purifoy indefinitely

This was supposed to be the year Bruce Pearl got Auburn back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2003. Now the FBI scandal has provided a tangible hit to the Tigers’ roster: starting forward Danjel Purifoy have been suspended indefinitely because of their ties to corruption allegations against Auburn assistant Chuck Person.

Person, who was arrested in the FBI probe, allegedly gave more than $18,000 to the families of two Auburn players. Purifoy averaged 11.5 points per game as a redshirt freshman last season.

Rick Pitino out at Louisville

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Louisville interim president Greg Postel announced Wednesday that head basketball coach Rick Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich were placed on administrative leave. Pitino's attorney, Steve Spence, told the Courier-Journal that Louisville had “effectively fired” the coach. Louisville has named David Padgett as the interim head coach.

Pitino was officially fired from Louisville on Monday:

How was Louisville involved?

Louisville acknowledged it was a part of the scandal on Tuesday. The program allegedly worked with Adidas to funnel $100,000 to an unnamed recruit who appears to be McDonald’s All-American shooting guard Brian Bowen. A coach was also caught on tape discussing a payment to a future recruit.

Louisville names David Padgett interim head coach

Louisville is staying in-house with its next head coach, promoting assistant David Padgett to the top job on an interim basis. Padgett is only 32 years old and was a fan favorite for the Cardinals as a three-year starting center.

Brian Bowen transfers to South Carolina

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Bowen has transferred to South Carolina.

He was the Louisville recruit widely believed to be the unnamed player in the investigation who allegedly received a $100,000 payment to commit to the Cardinals in June. The FBI cleared Bowen in November, saying he had no knowledge of the bride accepted by his family.

What does this mean for Louisville basketball?

Bowen was supposed to be Donovan Mitchell’s replacement in the backcourt. He was also the type of three-point shooter the roster desperately needed.

Anfernee Simons and Courtney Ramey decommit from Louisville

Top prospects Anfernee Simons and Courtney Ramey on Wednesday announced they would no longer be attending Louisville , shortly after Pitino was placed on administrative leave:

What does this mean for Louisville basketball?

It means Louisville has already lost its entire 2018 recruiting class just one day after the scandal broke. Simmons was a five-star guard ranked No. 8 overall in the class, while Ramey was a top-50 overall point guard. These are two elite prospects who are now reopening their recruitments.

5-star guard Romeo Langford no longer considering Louisville

Langford, ESPN’s No. 5 overall recruit in the country, has cut Louisville from his list, according to his father. We predicted the elite shooting guard would pick the Cardinals earlier this month before the scandal broke.

Auburn suspends assistant coach Chuck Person

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In the wake of Person’s arrest, Auburn suspended him without pay on Tuesday.

"This morning's news is shocking. We are saddened, angry and disappointed," university president Steven Leath wrote in a series of tweets posted to Twitter. "We are committed to playing by the rules, and that's what we expect from our coaches. In the meantime, Auburn is working closely with law enforcement, and we will help them in their investigation in any way we can."

How was Person involved?

Person allegedly collected $91,500 in bribes to push college athletes to work with Rashan Michel, the owner of an Atlanta-based clothing store.

What does this mean for Auburn basketball?

Head coach Bruce Pearl already has one show-cause penalty from the NCAA. This puts his program, which had been recruiting at an incredibly high level, under the microscope of the NCAA.

E.J. Montgomery decommits from Auburn

E.J. Montgomery, a four-star recruit from Georiga, decommitted from Auburn, his father told Scout.com Wednesday. Montgomery, a 6’10 power forward, had initially committed to Auburn Sept. 22.

What does this mean for Auburn basketball?

Montgomery was Auburn’s only recruit in the 2018 class, but he was a good one. He would have given Pearl a versatile lefty forward who would create with the ball in his hands. Montgomery’s commitment was more proof that Pearl was recruiting at a high level since going to Auburn. You have to wonder if that changes going forward.

Auburn is offering basketball ticket refunds

In addition to suspending Person, Auburn is offering season ticket holders full refunds for the upcoming basketball season. The school had previously announced that all season tickets had beens sold out for the fourth straight season.

Alabama’s director of basketball operations resigns

Alabama AD Greg Byrne announced he accepted the resignation of Kobie Baker, the school’s director of basketball operations, after an internal review of the program. Here’s the catch: The same statement said Alabama “has not identified any NCAA or SEC rules violations nor the involvement of any other coach or staff member,”.

Arizona suspends assistant coach Book Richardson

Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

How was Richardson involved?

Richardson, an assistant coach under head coach Sean Miller since 2009, allegedly accepted $20,000 in bribes from agency “runner” Christian Dawkins and financial adviser Muhish Sood for steering a top Arizona point guard recruit to work with them. The recruit in question is believed to be five-star floor general Jahvon Quinerly.

What does this mean for Arizona basketball?

Richardson has been arrested and could face up to 60 years in federal prison. He has been suspended and relieved of all duties at Arizona. Quinerly has decommitted from the program and eventually chose Villanova.

NBA players flee from ASM agency after ties to probe

The office of NBA agent Andy Miller was raided by the FBI this week after ties to the federal probe. Christian Dawkins, one of 10 men arrested in the investigation, used to work for Miller before being fired in May for racking up $42,000 in Uber expenses.

Now athletes are fleeing the agency, including first round draft pick Justin Patton (formerly of Creighton, now with the Timberwolves) and second rounder Edmond Sumner (formerly of Xavier, now with the Pacers).

Willie Reed has gone even further. The veteran big man filed a $13.5 million arbitration claim after alleging he was defrauded, according to ESPN.

Dawkins, sources say, advised Reed to turn down a preliminary three-year, $15 million deal by the Miami Heat early in the free-agency juncture with the promise of a larger market opening up for his services.

That never occurred.

Reed terminated his contract with Miller on the evening of July 11, sources say. Sources say Dawkins represented Reed and others well after he was believed to have been fired from the company over two months ago for racking up $42,000 in Uber charges on an unnamed NBA player's credit card.

Alabama five-star Collin Sexton suspended 1-game, then eligible

Sexton, arguably the best freshman guard in the country, missed Alabama’s exhibition games, sparking speculation that he could be ineligible this season. Turns out he’ll only miss the Crimson Tide’s opener.

College basketball fans should be happy to be able to watch him play.

Oklahoma State fires assistant Lamont Evans

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Lamont Evans was fired by Oklahoma State on Thursday. He had previously been suspended with pay on Tuesday afternoon.

“We have been in contact with the NCAA and will provide additional information as it becomes available,” the university said in a statement obtained by Tulsa World. “OSU takes seriously the high standards of conduct expected in our athletic department and does not tolerate any deviation from those standards.”

How was Evans involved?

Evans allegedly accepted $22,000 in bribes during his time at South Carolina, as well as Oklahoma State, to influence athletes toward business advisory and investment management services from Munish Sood.

What does this mean for Oklahoma State basketball?

The Cowboys could face an investigation from the NCAA. South Carolina and Frank Martin might be in the same boat after the indictment named the program in connection with Evans’ bribes. The same could go for new Illinois coach Brad Underwood, who hired Evans as an assistant during his one year as Cowboys coach.

USC assistant Tony Bland placed on administrative leave

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USC placed associate head basketball coach Tony Bland on administrative leave on Tuesday after learning of his arrest and involvement in the FBI investigation.

How was Bland involved?

Bland allegedly accepted $13,000 in bribes to steer players to an agent. Bland also allegedly worked with agents and financial advisers to send $9,000 to families of two current USC basketball players.

What does this mean for USC basketball?

USC was about to start one of its most anticipated seasons ever as a consensus top-15 team. The NCAA is likely to investigate the players referenced in the report, which could leave them suspended or ineligible.