Porter Binks/Getty Images

Report: NCAA Opens Investigation into Kansas Men's Basketball, Football Programs

Kyle Newport

The NCAA is currently investigating the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball and football programs, according to CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd.

Dodd noted an NCAA enforcement official has made a trip to the Lawrence, Kansas, campus while looking into the basketball program, though head coach Bill Self has not been interviewed.

Dan Wetzel, Pat Forde and Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports reported in November 2018 that the federal government has given the NCAA clearance to investigate individual schools for potential violations.

Dodd reported last month Kansas officials were growing worried a formal infractions case was in the works after the NCAA ruled sophomore forward Silvio De Sousa must sit out the remainder of the 2018-19 basketball season as well as next season after his guardian received payments from a university booster and agent.

The NCAA found De Sousa's guardian had received $2,500 from an agent and booster and had agreed to accept an additional $20,000 from the same person and an Adidas employee for leading the player to Kansas during the recruiting process.

Kansas assistant basketball coach Kurtis Townsend was also caught on a wiretap recording discussing payment for prized recruit Zion Williamson, who ultimately committed to Duke.

The Jayhawks also have been linked to an FBI investigation into college athletics via Brian Bowen Sr., the father of former recruit Brian Bowen. Bowen testified, according to Wetzel, that the University of Louisville offered him $100,000 for his son to play for the Cardinals because that's what Kansas paid to land Billy Preston.

Preston never appeared in a regular-season game for the Jayhawks due to an eligibility issue.

Dodd noted that former Kansas football coach David Beaty was interviewed by the NCAA in late February as part of an investigation in regards to possible wrongdoing by an assistant coach. Beaty filed a $3 million lawsuit against the university earlier this week, per ESPN's Mark Schlabach, for allegedly being fired without cause last November.

   

Read 28 Comments

Download the app for comments Get the B/R app to join the conversation

Install the App
×
Bleacher Report
(120K+)