By Chris Umpierre
Daily Bruin Staff
UCLA might be in danger of a NCAA violation if it is found that
Bruin head coach Steve Lavin gave special treatment to the son of a
premier high school coach in order to help gain the commitments of
two of that coach’s players.
Lavin said there is no connection between the admission of Geoff
McKnight, the son of Mater Dei basketball coach Gary McKnight, as a
basketball walk-on last fall, and Lavin’s recruitment of two
Mater Dei players, Cedric Bozeman and Jamal Sampson.
Bozeman committed to the Bruins this fall while Sampson signed
with California.
McKnight is currently enrolled as a UCLA freshman but did not
try out for the team this year because of a knee injury.
According to NCAA rule 13.9.2, “arrangements by an
institution that involves material benefit for a high school,
preparatory school or two-year coach … are prohibited.”
UCLA could not be found guilty of breaking the rule unless the
NCAA proved, for instance, that McKnight’s admittance had
something to do with Bozeman’s decision to come to UCLA.
UCLA spokesman Marc Dellins said he does not expect the school
to be investigated by the NCAA.
“We feel that the young man was admitted because he was
going to be part of the basketball program,” Dellins said.
“We don’t believe there was a violation and we
don’t expect anything to develop from the
situation.”
Each spring, Lavin turns in a list of possible walk-ons to the
school’s special action committee for student-athlete
admissions. McKnight was one of the players the coach recommended
last year.
Under this committee student-athletes don’t face the
strict qualifications regular UCLA applicants face.
According to the Los Angeles Daily News, McKnight’s high
school GPA was between 3.0 and 3.5 and he had an SAT score between
1000 and 1200. Those numbers are below the UCLA average of 4.2 GPA
and a 1330 SAT score.
Lavin recommended him for admission even though McKnight hardly
played in high school. He only played one year for the Mater Dei
varsity team and in his senior year, McKnight made just five total
field goals.
“With walk-ons, I’m not necessarily looking for
people who will impact the program as a player,” Lavin told
the Orange County Register. “I’m looking for someone
who’s a good person, a good student. It’s a bonus if
he’s from a basketball family because then he has a good
understanding of the game.”
Dellins said each coach is responsible for the walk-ons
he’s recommending.
“For the most part ,we rely on the coaches; that if
they’re putting somebody on their squad, they feel that
person can make a contribution to the program,” he said.
On Wednesday, several UCLA students expressed concern regarding
the issue.
“In this situation, it’s not fair,” said Paul
Kahlon, a third-year film student. “Someone got pushed aside
for this kid and that’s frustrating. I think the academic
integrity of our school’s been compromised.”
Third-year biology student Tanya Silva said, “That’s
the way it is. I’ve heard so many stories like that. Our
school needs to make money and sports is such a big part of
it.”