ASU penalty results from $5,165 apparel issuance

Arkansas State Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir is shown in this file photo.
Arkansas State Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir is shown in this file photo.

A former Arkansas State men's basketball staff member committed a Level II NCAA violation in July when he provided a player with more than $5,000 worth of apparel, the NCAA announced Wednesday.

The violation, which was self-reported by ASU in December, was made when the former director of basketball operations provided a player with shoes, shirts and other items valued at $5,165, which was considered an extra benefit. The staff member provided the player with the school's login to order apparel from Adidas, its athletic outfitter, and then notified him when it was delivered to campus.

The NCAA levied a $5,000 fine, a public reprimand and ordered ASU to vacate records in which the ineligible player who received the extra benefit participated. An ASU spokesman said ASU will vacate the Nov. 16 victory over Lyon College in Jonesboro.

The spokesman also identified the employee as Kyle Drake, a North Little Rock and ASU graduate who had been director of basketball operations for two seasons. He was fired Dec. 21, the NCAA report said.

The spokesman declined to identify the player who received the apparel. However, the NCAA report said the player was dismissed from the team Dec. 8 for an unrelated issue. Guard P.J. Hardwick is the only player to play in the Lyon victory but not after Dec. 8. Former Coach John Brady announced in a statement Dec. 12 that Hardwick was leaving the team but did not provide a reason.

In a statement issued Wednesday, ASU Athletic Director Terry Mohajir said ASU cooperated with the NCAA.

"We remain committed to complying with all NCAA rules and regulations, and we fully accept the fine imposed, public reprimand and to vacate one win from the 2015-2016 season as our penalty," Mohajir said in a statement.

The NCAA report said that on or around July 4, Drake provided a player with the school's login to order apparel for practices and workouts. On July 10, the player ordered about $5,165 worth of apparel. Drake, the report said, attempted to cancel the order but could not. The order arrived at ASU and on July 17, Drake provided the player with a key to get the apparel from the team's equipment room.

The player ordered a total of 82 items, which included 22 pairs of shoes valued between $35-$160. He also ordered shirts, sweatshirts, jackets and vests, according to a copy of shipping information obtained by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in a Freedom of Information Act request. The player denied receiving the apparel in an interview with the NCAA, according to a summary disposition of the case obtained by the Democrat-Gazette.

The NCAA Committee on Infractions ruled that Drake committed a Level II penalty when he provided the player with the apparel, not when he provided him with the login.

The report stated ASU learned about the violation from the player's father, after the player had been dismissed from the team. Administrators, the report said, spoke with Drake, who said he provided the player with the apparel. Drake was fired Dec. 21, and ASU self-reported the violation Dec. 22.

The player's father also told ASU of potential violations in the men's basketball program in "late summer or early summer 2015." ASU did not uncover any violations after a review of its men's basketball program, the report said.

The violation has led to ASU changing its policies in distributing apparel, according to the report. Coaches for each sport will be required to approve in writing each individual or team order, and sports supervisors will be required to review orders on a monthly basis. Previously, the report said Drake would meet with players to determine apparel needs, and then personally place the order.

The player involved is considered ineligible, according to the summary disposition, and if he transfers the school will have to request his reinstatement. The NCAA did not levy any penalty against Drake.

ASU's record for last season is now 10-20 after vacating the Lyon victory. Brady's record in eight seasons at ASU is 120-129, and his record over 25 seasons at Samford, LSU and ASU is 401-345. Brady, who has relocated to New Orleans, told the Democrat-Gazette on Tuesday that the penalty was "inadvertent."

"It wasn't like it helped him recruit or nothing," Brady said. "The guy just made a mistake."

Sports on 04/14/2016

Upcoming Events