Post by Hero on Sept 28, 2017 12:17:33 GMT
Wednesday night, Alabama accepted the resignation of men’s basketball administrator Kobie Baker after an internal review. Baker’s previous job: assistant director of enforcement at the NCAA.
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne issued the following statement on the matter: “Following yesterday’s reports from New York regarding a Federal investigation of intercollegiate athletics, The University of Alabama Department of Athletics immediately initiated an internal review of our men’s basketball operations. As a result, we have accepted the resignation effective today of Kobie Baker, a men’s basketball administrator. Our review has not identified any NCAA or SEC rules violations nor the involvement of any other coach or staff member. We have notified both of the governing bodies of the actions we have taken. As always, we will continue to be proactive in our compliance efforts.”
According to a story in the Tuscaloosa News on Wednesday night, Baker’s resignation is directly tied to the FBI investigation. Alabama’s internal review points to Baker as “Staff Member-1” in the federal complaint released Tuesday, which alleges that the unnamed staffer was involved in a scheme to accept money in return for directing a “highly regarded incoming freshman basketball player” to sign with a financial adviser after declaring for the NBA draft.
The federal complaint says in the first nine months of 2017, financial adviser Rashan Michel “facilitated the payment of approximately $25,000 to … (Staff Member-1).” On Aug. 31, the complaint says, Michel arranged a meeting at an Atlanta restaurant between himself, the staffer Alabama identified as Baker, a witness cooperating with the FBI, and the father of the incoming freshman player.
Collin Sexton, the No. 8 player in the Class of 2017 according to Rivals.com, is from Mableton, Ga., just outside of Atlanta. He was the only 2017 recruit from the state of Georgia signed by the school.
The purpose of the meeting, according to the complaint, was for Baker to make introductions between the player’s father and the financial adviser, and ultimately steer the prospect to him once he entered the NBA draft. The complaint says the feds’ cooperating witness gave Michel $10,000 that was to be given to Baker for arranging the meeting.
For someone who formerly worked as one of the NCAA rules cops to be caught up in this, on the heels of the bombshell dropped by the feds Tuesday, hints at the profound credibility problems facing the sport.
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne issued the following statement on the matter: “Following yesterday’s reports from New York regarding a Federal investigation of intercollegiate athletics, The University of Alabama Department of Athletics immediately initiated an internal review of our men’s basketball operations. As a result, we have accepted the resignation effective today of Kobie Baker, a men’s basketball administrator. Our review has not identified any NCAA or SEC rules violations nor the involvement of any other coach or staff member. We have notified both of the governing bodies of the actions we have taken. As always, we will continue to be proactive in our compliance efforts.”
According to a story in the Tuscaloosa News on Wednesday night, Baker’s resignation is directly tied to the FBI investigation. Alabama’s internal review points to Baker as “Staff Member-1” in the federal complaint released Tuesday, which alleges that the unnamed staffer was involved in a scheme to accept money in return for directing a “highly regarded incoming freshman basketball player” to sign with a financial adviser after declaring for the NBA draft.
The federal complaint says in the first nine months of 2017, financial adviser Rashan Michel “facilitated the payment of approximately $25,000 to … (Staff Member-1).” On Aug. 31, the complaint says, Michel arranged a meeting at an Atlanta restaurant between himself, the staffer Alabama identified as Baker, a witness cooperating with the FBI, and the father of the incoming freshman player.
Collin Sexton, the No. 8 player in the Class of 2017 according to Rivals.com, is from Mableton, Ga., just outside of Atlanta. He was the only 2017 recruit from the state of Georgia signed by the school.
The purpose of the meeting, according to the complaint, was for Baker to make introductions between the player’s father and the financial adviser, and ultimately steer the prospect to him once he entered the NBA draft. The complaint says the feds’ cooperating witness gave Michel $10,000 that was to be given to Baker for arranging the meeting.
For someone who formerly worked as one of the NCAA rules cops to be caught up in this, on the heels of the bombshell dropped by the feds Tuesday, hints at the profound credibility problems facing the sport.
