I had never thought of it like that.

But, the more front court depth the better, imo. I don't expect Mickelson to be a flat out stud. All he has to do is rebound and block/alter shots.

Just trying to drop to your level of understanding. Still might of been a bit to high.

I like the sound of that!

I predict that Mickelson will be very good get for KU. His game has steadily deteriorated at Arkansas. If he gets back with someone who can work with him on his footwork and fundamentals and really develop him, he could be a big piece.

I would be okay with him just being a solid defender.

They need to toughen and bulk him up. Arkansas fans called him "the softest big man in college basketball."

He just didn't play like his size for the most part.

Under Mike Anderson?! No way!!!

Trust in Hudy.

Self said he plans on hiring an assistant (to replace Dooley) externally.

Good thing I've got my resume up to date.

We need a guy that can bring in the big fish and put Bill over the top in the recruiting game.

Hopefully you can evaluate player talent. Since you couldn't with Ellis. LMAO

WWW

He's shit, obviously.

JayhawkSlant‏@JayhawkSlant2m
No decision from Andrew Wiggins today. He'll decide when he's ready. #kubball

Hopefully an offensive guy.


:p

Dear god how much more do you need to research?

Uhh oh....

McLemore's Former AAU Coach was paid $10K to sway him to leave Kansas for NBA

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...-cobb/2131775/

ST. LOUIS — Ben McLemore's former AAU coach says he received thousands of dollars in cash, lodging, meals and trips from a middle man who courted the Kansas player on behalf of sports agents and financial advisers during the 2012-13 college basketball season.

Darius Cobb, a St. Louis-based AAU coach, told USA TODAY Sports that he accepted two cash payments of $5,000 during the regular season from Rodney Blackstock, the founder and CEO of Hooplife Academy, a sports mentoring organization based in Greensboro, N.C.

Cobb says he also received three all-expense paid trips to Los Angeles — and that a cousin of McLemore's, Richard Boyd, accompanied him on two of them — for meetings in January and February with sports agents and financial advisers hoping to represent McLemore if he left for the NBA after his redshirt freshman season at Kansas. McLemore, 20, declared for the NBA draft on April 9.

Cobb provided travel itineraries and photos taken of he and Boyd on the trips, however, Boyd denied making the trips with Cobb.

"No, I did not (go to Los Angeles)," Boyd told USA TODAY Sports. "I don't know anything about that. The rumors, that's why I don't want to do interviews because people misinterpret stuff. … There is too much confusion. Everyone is trying to control this and that."

A person who became close to Blackstock to help him build relationships with players and their families confirmed knowledge of Blackstock's payments to Cobb. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity so he would not harm his relationships with those involved.

Blackstock did not return multiple text and voice messages left on his cell phone seeking comment.

Although Boyd denied being on the trips, he acknowledged Blackstock had built a close relationship with the family and defended him, saying Blackstock's involvement has helped because he knows the agent industry and can navigate a landscape strewn with individuals who don't always have the player's best interests at heart.

"He is cool," Boyd says of Blackstock. "He has just given us some pointers. He has been in the business a while and has been overseas. But everything is Ben's and his mom's decisions."

Cobb says Blackstock cultivated a relationship with himself and McLemore's family and introduced them to multiple Los Angeles-based sports agents during the season. McLemore knew "little to none" about Blackstock's financial involvement in the player's life, Cobb said, nor did McLemore know that Cobb had accepted $10,000 from Blackstock.

Documents obtained by USA TODAY Sports via a public records request to the University of Kansas show that Blackstock received complimentary admission as McLemore's guest to three Jayhawks home games during the 2012-13 season. Guest signature reports for the Jayhawks' Feb. 2 game vs. Oklahoma State, Feb. 11 game vs. Kansas State and March 4 game vs. Texas Tech list Blackstock's name as a recipient, McLemore's name as the student-athlete making the request and Blackstock's signature acknowledging he was admitted. Under NCAA rules, players are allotted four complimentary admissions per game for guests.

McLEMORE: Fights through poverty to become basketball star

Cobb says Blackstock paid him money because he wanted Cobb to steer McLemore toward Blackstock. Cobb, 41, has known McLemore since the player was in the sixth grade, and he began coaching McLemore when the player was 15 years old. Cobb also said he has helped the family financially from time to time, paying bills and buying McLemore clothes and food. Cobb was on McLemore's guest list for five home games this season, and he said he also attended some road games.

The payments that Cobb said he received from Blackstock – and the trips to Los Angeles that Cobb says he and Boyd accepted – potentially could have jeopardized McLemore's amateur status because of NCAA rules that prohibit college players' family members, friends and coaches from accepting money or gifts from sports agents or those working on their behalf. The NCAA has historically handled similar situations on a case-by-case basis.

Multiple attempts to reach McLemore were unsuccessful.

In a statement on Saturday, Kansas Athletics Director Sheahon Zenger said, "Late this afternoon we received an inquiry regarding the relationship between the family of Ben McLemore and a third party, Rodney Blackstock. This was the first time this inquiry had been presented to us. In accordance with the conditions and obligations of its membership in the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference, the University of Kansas will review the information and process it with both of those entities if necessary. We are not in a position to comment further at this time."

Cobb detailed his involvement during more than 10 hours of interviews with USA TODAY Sports at his home and elsewhere in the St. Louis area. Cobb says he is telling his story because he wants to help educate basketball families such as the McLemores and expose individuals who pursue college athletes and their families while the players still have amateur eligibility.

"I don't want to hurt the family, I want to protect the family," Cobb says. "If there had to be a bad guy, if there had to be a fall guy, let it be me, as opposed to ruining a great kid who has busted his butt to get where he is. Let me be the crooked AAU coach. I was willing to take the brunt of it for the sake of this kid. I wanted to keep him pure."

PROSPECT: McLemore declares for NBA draft

Cobb has had run-ins with the law in his life, and has pleaded guilty to charges that include stealing, fraudulent use of a credit device and possession of a controlled substance. He served two years in jail because of the fraudulent use offense.

"I am an example of someone who has made bad choices but has rededicated myself to doing right by helping the kids in my community so they don't make the same mistakes I made," Cobb said. "By no means am I perfect. But I have been committed to the kids in my community, and this is the way I give back."
None

The Kansas men's basketball Guest Signature Report for the Jayhawks' Feb. 2 home game against Oklahoma State. This is the first Kansas home game in which Ben McLemore left one of his allowed complimentary tickets for Rodney Blackstock.(Photo: Daniel Uthman, USA TODAY Sports)

Cobb also acknowledges he was facing his own financial difficulties at the time he accepted money from Blackstock, and Cobb said the saga has splintered his relationships with McLemore's family members. Text messages between Cobb and family members throughout the season show that Cobb repeatedly tried to warn the family about Blackstock's growing influence.

"There is a lot of damage that has been done in a short amount of time," Cobb says. "And what hurts me the most is Ben. This is supposed to be the happiest time in this kid's life. It's not. And it's coming from the people who supposedly love him."

After sitting out the 2011-12 season because he was not academically eligible, McLemore's stock soared during his sole college season, in which he led the Jayhawks to the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16. Kansas coach Bill Self called McLemore, who set the Jayhawks' freshman scoring record, the best young player that he has ever coached.

Introductions made

Cobb says he started speaking regularly with Blackstock by phone before the 2012-13 season because Cobb and mutual friends sought to launch a sports management company. He felt that Blackstock, 32, with his relationships with college players and his location in the basketball hotbed of North Carolina, could play an important role.

Cobb says he introduced McLemore's mom, Sonya Reid, to Blackstock at the Jan. 19 Kansas game at Texas because he also felt Blackstock could help the family with advice if McLemore opted for the NBA draft after the season. Cobb says Reid and Blackstock sat together during the game.

Very soon, Blackstock's influence grew, Cobb says.

Cobb says a cousin of McLemore's, Boyd, was included on two of the trips to Los Angeles because McLemore's mom wanted someone in the family present so no business deals were agreed upon without the family's knowledge.

Cobb says on the second trip he took with Boyd the two stayed at the Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive. Cobb showed USA TODAY Sports three February emails from people associated with a financial firm and a sports agency in the Los Angeles area that contained hotel confirmation numbers for Boyd, Cobb and Blackstock at that hotel from Feb. 15-17.

Boyd and Cobb are pictured standing next to the sign for the Luxe Hotel in a photo obtained by USA TODAY Sports. Cobb says the photo was taken by Blackstock, who has used a photo of himself standing next to the same sign as the profile picture on his Facebook account.

NBA DRAFT: McLemore contends for top pick

Cobb describes Boyd as a "good guy who is in over his head." And Boyd acknowledged that it was difficult to discern who to trust as McLemore's regular season progressed and that the situation became overwhelming for him and some family members.

On Feb. 16, when Cobb said he, Boyd and Blackstock were in the Los Angeles area, Cobb says Blackstock expressed in a text message his plan to become a sports agent, and to get help covering those costs.
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The Kansas men's basketball Guest Signature Report for the Jayhawks' Feb. 11 home game against Kansas State. This is the second of three Kansas home games for which Ben McLemore left one of his allowed complimentary tickets for Rodney Blackstock.(Photo: Daniel Uthman, USA TODAY Sports)

In the message, Blackstock wrote, "We bringing to the table and the pipeline bro they gonna be winning and willing to do whatever. So I am thinking a point and secondary agent they pay my agent license six figure salary benefits [and] travel budget for recruitment bro."

Multiple efforts to reach Reid by telephone and in person at her home were unsuccessful. Boyd said she had advised him that no one close to McLemore should agree to interviews with the media.

Boyd says he was not aware that Cobb accepted money. When asked specifically about Cobb's influence, Boyd says, "Everybody should fall in line instead of trying to do their own thing. (Cobb) is a good guy, has a good heart. So much that he wants to try to do on his own, but he has got to follow a protocol with Ben and his mom."

Visits to L.A.

Cobb offered numerous details about other trips and benefits in interviews. He provided text messages, flight receipts, travel confirmation emails, photos and bank records to support his statements:

Cobb says his first trip to California was in January, accompanied by Blackstock, to meet a prominent financial planner who works with professional athletes. Cobb says he never saw a bill because he paid for nothing during his trip and stayed at the Four Seasons in Westlake Village, Calif. On the way to the airport to fly home, Cobb said Blackstock gave him $5,000 in cash. Cobb says he never asked for money and was shocked when Blackstock gave it to him, but the coach says he accepted it because he was facing financial hardship.
Cobb says he returned to Los Angeles at the end of January — this time with Blackstock and McLemore's cousin, Boyd — so that Boyd could meet the same financial planner. Cobb says the two men stayed at the SLS Hotel Beverly Hills, and also were given tickets to a Los Angeles Clippers game on Jan. 27 against the Portland Trail Blazers. Cobb showed USA TODAY Sports a photo of he and Boyd in their seats at the Staples Center, with the Los Angeles Clippers logo visible behind them.
After that trip, Cobb says he saw Blackstock again in St. Louis. Cobb says Blackstock took him to a Bank of America branch in North County, made a withdrawal and handed him another $5,000 – two bands of $2,000 in $20 bills with the wrapper on them and another $1,000 in $50 bills. Cobb showed USA TODAY Sports a bank statement of his that included a $2,500 deposit on January 31 and a $2,000 deposit on February 4. Cobb says he kept $500 as cash on hand. Because the deposits were in cash, the source of the money cannot be determined from the statement.
On Feb. 2, the same day Blackstock attended Kansas' home game against Oklahoma State, he sent a text message to Cobb in which Blackstock asked Cobb about an order that needed to be placed for a "custom" cake for McLemore's upcoming birthday party. Cobb says he did not have enough of his own money to cover all the expenses, so the money from Blackstock "was like perfect timing."

"I used it to help purchase hotel rooms and extra tickets" for the Kansas State game, Cobb says. "The whole time I am telling everyone, 'Hey, this is trial and error. There is no book for doing this. I am doing the best I can. But if something goes wrong, let me be the fall guy.' That way I kept the family clear and Ben stayed eligible."

On Feb. 3, Cobb sent McLemore's mom a text message asking for a "final (head) count so I can book the rooms and get tickets today." On Feb. 9, Reid sent Cobb a text message, telling him that she had made it to Lawrence for McLemore's birthday party set for the next day.
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The Kansas men's basketball Guest Signature Report for the Jayhawks' March 4 home game against Texas Tech. This is the third of three Kansas home games for which Ben McLemore left one of his allowed complimentary tickets for Rodney Blackstock.(Photo: Daniel Uthman, USA TODAY Sports)

Cobb says he helped book a bowling party for McLemore's birthday, and that Blackstock accompanied him to set up the reservation at Wayne and Larry's on Iowa Street in Lawrence. Cobb says that when he returned from the restroom, Blackstock already had paid for the party, about $400 or $500. Cobb said he saw the bowling alley employee handing Blackstock's Bank of America debit card back to him after Blackstock paid the bill.

"He was like, 'Man, don't worry about it. I got you,' " Cobb says. " 'We're a team. We're family.' That was him saying, 'I am part of this. I am doing this out of my own pocket.' "

Eric Prisbell, a national college basketball reporter for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @EricPrisbell.

not going to read the whole thing but i really don't see much of an 'uhh oh'


unless the AAU coach can lose the ability to do his job so how i don't see much happening and i don't think anyone gives a crap about the AAU coaches anyway.


NBA doesn't give a shit about the money or anything

KU didn't do it

McLemore is gone, he doesn't care

:shrug:

That's an "uh oh" on the coach, not KU. Not our problem, the coach is in deep shit though.

Read the deal about the AAU coach. Looks like KU and Self knew nothing about it. Have to wait and see how it all pans out.

They didn't. They're (KU) the ones investigating it actually.

What's the uh oh? Why would KU be involved? To push him out the door so they'd be worse next year? That makes no sense.

usually stuff like this causes other doors to open.

just about every top program in both major sports, pay some kind of incentives to their top recruits one way or another, it's just a matter whether or not you get caught.

uh oh.


even if it had nothing to do with KU, this stuff never looks good.

Lots of fuel for the conspiracy theorists.

Doesn't matter what they knew. Your compliance department is responsible for knowing that stuff. That's a fact

How exactly is the compliance department supposed to know what a player's ex-AAU coach is doing? Do you think there are secret agents spying on everyone who has ever been involved with every player attending school?

So his old coach was paid to help Ben LEAVE Kansas? That's a first. Normally you read about guys or advisors getting paid to JOIN a team. But leave? I don't think I've seen that before.



In this case it looks like Kansas got shafted rather than helped. We didn't want Ben to leave.

We have to know things that we don't know. Mmmmkay.

Derp.

LMAO

No.

The allegations aren't that Ben got money. No way can a university control what every single person in a player's life does.

Yep, ku is responsible. Fact

PLZ TELL ME MOAR!

So what could happen there?

The ultimate demise of KU basketball and Bill Self and the overall ruling of Weber's purple cats full of D2 transfers.

Time to investigate college athlete's wedding presents. Bet there gifts from alumni and boosters there, too. Start with Colin Klein.

:evil:

Actually, we do. Ignorance is no excuse. If the story was different like Ben getting 100k from a booster to stay, we would be liable if we played him. Everyone would claim ignorance if it were allowed.


That said its weird here because KU didn't benefit. So I'm not seeing the problem here

Doyel covers it pretty well.

Link

The thing I'm taking away from this is that it's a Mizzou/K-State Wet Dream. They have hoped/prayed/sacrificed their first born children in hopes that they'd see KU go down big time. This isn't it. The idea that KU would be complicit in some sort of Alex Jones' conspiracy to get a KU player to an agent is absolutely absurd. KU will be fine. EMAW fans can fap their hearts out (what's new?). Some things won't change. KU will out-recruit, out-play, and out-title every team in the conference in basketball. Bet.

The biggest problems for KU is that Blackstock was using McLemore's tickets to games starting in February...KU should have been asking who is this guy and why are you giving him free tickets. Also Blackstock paying for Ben's birthday party/dinner is a big no-no.

Their biggest dream died after Arthur's case wasn't pursued by the NCAA.

Yeah...don't care.

NCAA cleared Arthur before he ever showed up on campus. Whatever failures there were in that process point right back at the NCAA.

Obviously. Didn't stop Blair Jerkoff from running the story for two months and continually asking if KU would lose it's title. Such a foolish idiot.

If you want something bad enough, you can make it a reality in your own mind.

As much as I hate KU...This is totally STUPID and BULLSHIT.

JayhawkSlant‏@JayhawkSlant7m
Darius Cobb, Ben McLemore's former AAU coach, says KU did nothing wrong. http://kansas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1503053 … Shay #kubball

Link

Ben McLemore’s former AAU coach says KU knew nothing about middleman

Darius Cobb, the former AAU coach of Ben McLemore, who told USA Today he was paid $10,000 and travel expenses from a middleman, who allegedly represented agents and financial advisers, on Monday issued a news release through Coburn Enterprise, LLC based in Florissant, Mo.

In the release, Cobb, who is not speaking directly to the media at this time, said Kansas University officials knew nothing about middleman Rodney Blackstock’s involvement with Cobb, despite the fact Blackstock attended three KU games using complimentary tickets on McLemore’s KU pass list.

“I want the media, KU Fans, and public to know University of Kansas, Head Coach Bill Self, nor any members of the Athletic Department had any knowledge or involvement,” Cobb said in an exact wording of his statement.
Repeating what he said in the USA Today article, Cobb added: “I don’t want to hurt the McLemore family, I want to protect the family. If there had to be a bad guy, if there had to be a fall guy, let it be me, as opposed to ruining a great kid who has busted his butt to get where he is. Let me be the crooked AAU coach. I was willing to take the brunt of it for the sake of this kid. I wanted to keep him pure.”

Cobb, who has been unable to reach McLemore — the KU player has reportedly changed his phone number and McLemore’s mother has changed her number — wants to get word to McLemore that Blackstock is not a licensed agent. The release, in fact, refers to Blackstock as an “alleged agent.”

Cobb believes it is possible McLemore is planning on having Blackstock represent him and says McLemore needs to know he is not licensed.

Cobb, in the release, says Blackstock gave him money to give to the family, because he wanted Cobb to steer McLemore toward Blackstock, which has happened. Cobb, 41, has known McLemore since the player was in the sixth grade, and he began coaching McLemore when the player was 15 years old.

Blackstock has been unavailable for comment. KU coach Self said Sunday he had no comment on the McLemore matter.

Found this... baseball could be interesting this weekend.

JayhawkSlant ‏@JayhawkSlant 31m
Andrew Wiggins will sign with the school of his choice on Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. Shay #kubball

I really thought he had already chosen UK.

One member of the press will be there, a Huntington writer, no TV.

I think he probably has.

@22wiggins: As you focus on the little things, the bigger ones will get you

Likely. It's why I gave up on following recruiting a long time ago.

So any tweets out there to tease our tip and give us false hope?

Yup...


HawkinHutch @HawkinHutch 7m
SHUT UP N00B!

I say FSU or UK. Zero chance hes going to KU. Zero.

Jeff Borzello: "I think he ends up at Florida State. The Seminoles have been involved with him the longest time, and the family connection is a huge advantage for Leonard Hamilton. Wiggins isn't a fan of overwhelming media attention, and he would be able to avoid that somewhat in Tallahassee. Moreover, he would get to be the go-to-guy from Day 1."

Jeff Goodman: "Florida State, but don't count out Kansas."

Gary Parrish: Florida State. "Combine the family's connection to the school with Leonard Hamilton's reputation as an elite recruiter with the fact that Wiggins won't really have to share the ball in Tallahassee."

Matt Norlander: "FSU."

Jason McIntyre @TheBigLead

Wiggins at UK: undefeated talk. Wiggins at Kansas: Final 4 contender. Wiggins at FSU? 2nd round, like Durant at Texas

Evan Daniels @EvanDanielsFOX

Not saying Kansas is getting Andrew Wiggins, but they are/have been more in the mix than many are giving them credit for.

I hope he goes to FSU.

Anywhere but UK.

I HOPE he comes to KU... would be happy if he goes to FSU. He will PROBABLY go to UK. ****er.

Anyone have ESPN Insider?

Greg Rosenstein @grosenstein

Seven ESPN recruiting analysts gave predictions for Andrew Wiggins. All have him picking either FSU or Kansas. http://insider.espn.go.com/college-s...wiggins-choose …

Meh...other than Ben, we haven't had that great of a history with one-and-dones. I would like our players to stick around a couple of years at minimum. Xavier and Josh never lived up to the hype.

I hope he goes to FSU and keep the family tradition going...


Oh, and **** UK!

How did X fail to live up to the hype?

Tomahawk, I like you but this is a crazy post. Having Wiggins would propel this team to a national contender. I'm not sure they are now.

KU Basketball is the only team I have that I expect to win every year. They are the one part of my life where I don't have patience for "rebuilding". I get enough of that with Weis, Royals and the ****ing Chefs.

Big men are different, Self uses them. :thumb:

Henry was great. He was probably a better overall player than McLemore for KU's 2010 team when you include his defense (although he obviously had far less offensive responsibility).

X was good but he wasn't as good as Ben, no way.

@GoodmanCBS: I'm changing my prediction for Andrew Wiggins' destination from FSU to Kansas. No "inside info", just a hunch based on talking to people.

If there are hats involved, KU is out...

Neither could create their own offense worth a damn for KU, both were very efficient shooters from the perimeter, and Henry was a better defender overall.

Very similar players in their college careers, but McLemore has more potential to grow in the pros than Henry did.

McLemore isn't even a year younger than Henry. It's not like Ben is some kid who is still growing into his body as a 19 year old rookie to be.

No hats. Private announcement with one reporter allowed.


TELEP -FSU

PAUL BIANCARDI - Once Wiggins reclassified to the Class of 2013, his recruitment went from intense to crazy. Yet because of how silent he's been on the topic, it's been a high-profile but quiet recruiting race for the nation's No. 1 prospect. It's been well-documented that Wiggins' parents are Florida State alumni, and Hamilton has created a great relationship with the Wiggins family. But the longer Wiggins' recruitment has gone on, the more it has allowed the bluebloods of college basketball to gain ground on early favorite Florida State. He is a superstar in the world of high school basketball but has a reserved personality and wants to fit in with a group of players to win a championship. With the departure of Ben McLemore to the NBA and his older brother Nick Wiggins playing in the state of Kansas at Wichita State, the Jayhawks have solid footing in the race. Also consider how much Wiggins enjoyed his official visit to Lawrence, and it looks good for the Jayhawks. My prediction: Andrew Wiggins will call Kansas home for the 2013-14 season.

ADAM FINKELSTEIN - FSU

REGGIE RANKIN: I am going to stay with my previous prediction of Kansas. Bill Self will have a young but very talented team next season, and Wiggins could be the marquee player from day one. Plus, the recent success of McLemore, who is projected as a top-five pick in the upcoming NBA draft, has to be attractive and a great selling point. At Kansas, Wiggins could have one of the biggest stages in college basketball to himself for probably his only season on campus. Wiggins would provide the Jayhawks with elite athleticism that could put him in position to be not only Big 12 Rookie of the Year but Player of the Year as well. Wiggins is a special talent who will transition easily into major college basketball.

JOEL FRANCISCO -FSU

JOHN STOVALL - Just a gut feeling, but I think Kansas. The Jayhawks have made some nice inroads throughout the entire process. This one is almost too close to call, though. Florida State and North Carolina are right there, and Kentucky may not be totally out yet.

MIKE LAPLANTE - FSU

Dude there are many, many ways a player can grow other than just in physical dimensions.