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
