ATHENS — Georgia not only got good news from the NCAA regarding the eligibility of Jarvis Jones, it got it fast.
It was determined that Jones, a sophomore linebacker from Columbus, did not violate any NCAA rules when he accepted benefits from a hometown parks-and-recreation official because of a pre-existing relationship that predated his status as a prospective student-athlete. Therefore Jones, who is scheduled to start at outside linebacker for the Bulldogs, will be eligible to play this season.
Georgia received the news from the NCAA on Monday night, exactly one week after filing the report on its internal investigation with the SEC.
“I think the NCAA is making a concerted effort to turn things around as quickly as possible,” Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said. “We’ve been hearing in these various meetings they were going to try to do a better job of that. So we’re just thankful the NCAA was able to do that in this case.
“Whether the decision was up or down, we’re able to move forward now. At the end of the day, that’s all schools want.”
Last year the Bulldogs had to wait until the second week of the season to learn that wide receiver A.J. Green would have to sit out four games for violating NCAA rules regarding amateurism. UGA held Green out of the first game on its own.
“I appreciate the work of our compliance office for its time and effort in providing a thorough, comprehensive report, and I’m thankful for the timely manner in which the NCAA reviewed and evaluated all the facts to reach a decision,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said in a statement.
Richt was not available to talk to reporters Tuesday.
Jones’ eligibility was under review because a police investigation into alleged corruption within the Columbus parks-and-recreation department revealed an administrator had provided benefits to him and UGA basketball signee Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the summer of 2009. Tony Adams, a parks director who also has ties to the Georgia Blazers AAU basketball team, pleaded guilty in March to two felony counts of conspiracy to defraud. He was sentenced to four years’ probation, $25,000 restitution and 50 hours of community service.
Jones’ relationship with Adams was the center of UGA’s investigation. Adams reportedly paid for four flights for Jones, then a freshman signee at USC, to and from Los Angeles in the summer of 2009 and also provided other benefits.
Georgia was able to prove that Jones’ legal guardian, Shelley Stephens — who also worked for the rec department and flew with him to Los Angeles — had been in a long-term relationship with Adams. The main criteria for meeting the stipulations of the NCAA bylaw pertaining to preferential treatment, benefits and services is that a relationship predates an athlete’s status as a college prospect. Jones had been under the care of Stephens and had known Adams before he was in the ninth grade.
“Based on the information that we received and reviewed, it was interpreted that it met the four-pronged test of an established relationship for receiving permissible benefits,” UGA compliance director Eric Baumgartner said. “We’re appreciative of the SEC and the NCAA for their swift and expeditious review of this case.”
Jones transferred to Georgia from USC — where he played in eight games as a freshman — last summer and sat out last season per NCAA transfer rules. He’s a former AJC Super 11 player who was rated among the top linebackers in the nation. Current players say Jones is one of the better overall players on defense.
Georgia hired renowned NCAA investigator Mike Glazier of the law firm Bond, Shoeneck & King to lead an internal probe earlier this summer. Glazier compiled UGA’s report, which it turned over to the SEC office Aug. 2.
UGA declined the AJC’s open-records requests under the Freedom of Information Act to review the report under the claim that the document was protected by a federal law protecting the privacy of students. The AJC disputes that claim.
McGarity said Georgia has not yet completed its investigation of Caldwell-Pope. The five-star shooting guard from Greenville allegedly was using a cellphone that was paid for by Adams.
“We’re still processing that case,” McGarity said. “Jarvis’ situation was a little more urgent.”
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