NCAA considers proposals to reform basketball recruiting

By Doug Roberson

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The NCAA might take more steps to clean up basketball recruiting this week.

During its annual convention, this year in Atlanta, the NCAA's Legislative Council will vote on four proposals, two of which seem to be aimed at reducing the influence on the recruiting process that a player's associates or coaches at the AAU and high school levels can have.

*The first proposal would prohibit schools from hiring anyone associated with a recruit for a two-year period before or after that recruit enrolls.

*The second proposal would prohibit college camps and clinics from hiring as instructors anyone who isn't enrolled, or already coaching, at the host school.

NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson said the proposals have received broad support from all levels and are the product of year's worth of research.Voting results will be known today.

Coaches on the college and high school levels aren't sure that these proposals will have the intended effect, though they do agree that some reform is needed.

"As coaches, we have to look at the big picture and realize that some of these things have come about because coaches have abused the current rules," Georgia coach Mark Fox said. "That's mandated some changes."

Though the first proposal's official tag is 2009-99, it could be nicknamed "The Beasley/Wall Proposal" because it seemingly stems from high-profile recruiting incidents involving Michael Beasley at Kansas State and John Wall at Kentucky.

Beasley's AAU coach Dalonte Hill, a one-time Atlanta resident, was hired as an assistant at at his alma mater, UNC-Charlotte. Beasley, one of the nation's top players, eventually committed there. When Hill left the 49ers after three seasons and joined Bob Huggins' staff at Kansas State in 2006, Beasley switched his commitment to the Wildcats. He stayed for one season before leaving for the NBA.

In a similar situation, Wall's AAU coach, Dwon Clifton, was hired by Baylor to be its Director of Player Development. Though it was never publicly said, the hire seemingly was done to influence Wall, one of the nation's top point guards, to sign with them. He eventually signed with Kentucky.

Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said he agrees with the spirit of proposal, but thinks it might be a bit too broad in scope and too focused on basketball. He brings up two questions: What if a sister of a recruit, for example, wants to apply for a job for which she is qualified at the school in question? He also cites an Arkansas football situation from a few years ago when coach Houston Nutt hired a high school coach, Gus Malzahn, seemingly in order to influence the decision of star quarterback recruit, Mitch Mustain, who signed with the Razorbacks.

"That didn't gather much reaction as much as John Wall and Baylor, about him possibly going to Baylor," Hewitt said. "It was much ado about nothing."

If the proposal passes, college coaches will have to choose: Do they want the high school player or the player's coach?

The intent of the second proposal -- no students or non-staff members can work camps --  is similar to the first: to end the run-around process of paying coaches or those associated with recruits in order to influence their decision. However, coaches disagree on who will be affected most by the proposal.

High school coaches say they attend or work college camps to improve their skills so that they can become better teachers, as well as to network. Hewitt points out that he wouldn't be at Tech had he not been allowed to work and attend college camps and clinics at Georgetown in the late 1980s. It was there that Hoyas coach Craig Esherick introduced Hewitt to George Raveling, who later hired him as a graduate assistant at USC.

"Speaking as a former high school basketball, coach I'm not sure I could have gotten into the business," Hewitt said.

That's exactly why some high school coaches are concerned.

"I understand what the NCAA is trying to do," Centennial coach Allen Whitehart said. "But the high school coaches are the guys who get all the disadvantages. Now we can't work hand-in-hand with college coaches. It stunts our growth employment-wise and learning-wise."

Christianson said the reform package is not designed to stop high school coaches from legitimately moving up the ladder. As he points out, there are more than 300 schools under the NCAA umbrella.

Miller Grove coach Sharman White said while he hopes to coach in college someday, he's more concerned with doing whatever he can to become a better teacher. He said this proposal eventually would hurt players.

"As coaches we like to get better at our craft," said White, who has worked camps at Georgia Tech and Georgia. "Working those camps, a lot of times, it's working but it's also learning. It [the proposal] would prohibit us from growing as coaching. Our players are only as good as we are. If we are getting better, they are getting better."

Fox disagrees that the proposal, tagged 2009-102, would have that effect. He points out that colleges still host coaching clinics that offer plenty of opportunities for their high school counterparts to learn.

"It is a chance to network, but it doesn't mean they can't go and work a camp for Nike," said Fox, who got his collegiate start as a graduate assistant at Washington. "I don't completely agree with their argument, though I do see the point."