Report cites numerous NCAA rules violations by men’s basketball team
A report by AOL’s sports Web site FanHouse.com alleges that the USF men’s basketball program has violated numerous NCAA rules.
The report, which was released Wednesday night, claims that Terrelle Woody, the team’s video and conditioning assistant, provided improper transportation to USF sophomore Augustus Gilchrist.
Gilchrist, a 6-foot-10 forward, transferred from Maryland during the summer of 2008 and signed a grant-in-aid to play for USF.
The report claims that Woody, Gilchrist’s longtime friend and trainer, was hired by Heath on Aug. 26, 2008 to ensure the signing of the highly touted Gilchrist – citing a former USF player, assistant coach and an unnamed school source.
USF officials reached late Wednesday night declined to comment on the situation.
Violations include Woody, who was hired to a non-coaching position, providing illegal transportation to student-athletes, watching “open-gyms,” and coaching and partaking in illegal workouts with USF players, according to FanHouse.
The NCAA rules state a person in Woody’s position can provide “reasonable local transportation” to student-athletes, but only on an “occasional” basis.
The report indicates that Woody frequently provided Gilchrist with transportation, including an alleged car ride from Tampa to Maryland.
Citing a Hillsborough County sheriff report, Fanhouse also reported that three USF players were primary suspects in the theft of nearly $8,000 in merchandise from former USF players Jesus Verdejo, who graduated, and Gaby Belardo, who left the program in the offseason.
– Staff report
More Stories
USF student court rules candidates didn’t intimidate voters
Students might have noticed that the official announcement for the Student Government (SG) presidential elections for the upcoming term was delayed. Here’s a look at what slowed down the process. Suryakanth Prasad Gottipati and Sumit Subhash Jadhav won the election with 1,702 votes. However, Alexa Matos and Rithvik Lee Pack, presidential candidates and runner-ups, filed […]
Trouble following USF divestment debate updates? Here’s what to know.
Since last fall, a group of USF students have been calling for the university to divest. With months of protests and news, here’s a breakdown of the divestment movement. Related: USF student leaders narrowly pass divestment measure On Oct. 7, a designated terrorist group, known as Hamas, launched an attack on Israel, according to a […]
USF ditched its trademark green regalia. Are students digging it?
With commencement around the corner, seniors are sizing up the newly redesigned caps and gowns they’ll don next week. But does the new regalia get the Bulls’ approval? Students can’t agree. Last fall, USF replaced its signature green regalia with a black cap and gown with green accents. The placement of university seals on the […]
Recording in USF’s MSC isn’t allowed. Here’s how you can get approval.
Students from various majors are starting to record their last video projects for their classes as finals week approaches. It’s all fun and games until students are prohibited from recording in one of the most iconic USF buildings — the Marshall Student Center (MSC). However, Althea Johnson, a USF spokesperson, said recording isn’t entirely prohibited […]
USF admin’s response to suicides unclear. What we know so far.
USF’s administration will not say who or how it will prevent future suicides on campus a month after a student leapt from an upper floor balcony of the Interdisciplinary Science Building – the third suicide since fall 2022. The Oracle has asked repeatedly about which USF administrators are overseeing suicide prevention initiatives and how the […]
USF SG leaders look back on campaign accomplishments while on non-speaking terms
Student body president Cesar Esmeraldi and vice president Elizabeth Volmy reached nearly every campaign goal during their term. The one thing that didn’t persevere was their unity. The pair ended their tenure reflecting on it from separate rooms. “We’ve had a great year,” Esmeraldi said. “I’m very happy with everything we’ve built. But because of […]