Daily Bruin File Photo Controversy once again plagues
UCLA Head Coach Steve Lavin.
By AJ Cadman
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
The UCLA men’s basketball program finds itself amidst
accusations that recruiting violations were committed in an attempt
to bring two of the Southland’s top high school players to
Westwood.
The Los Angeles Daily News reported in its Thursday edition that
UCLA Head Coach Steve Lavin contacted Errick Craven and Jamal
Williams before the NCAA bylaws allow such actions to take place.
Craven has since committed to USC and Williams to New Mexico.
UCLA was informed of such actions having possibly taken place
through an e-mail sent to vice chancellor Peter Blackman, athletic
director Peter Dalis and associate athletic director Betsy
Stephenson. The athletic department believes that the letter was an
attempt to tarnish the image of the program and to get Lavin to
resign.
However, the e-mail did not mention that the recruits improperly
contacted were Craven or Williams.
“It’s pretty clear that someone is trying to create
an environment and culture where they want Coach Lavin out,”
Dalis said in a conference call Thursday afternoon. “I am
firmly behind Steve right now.”
Under the NCAA Guide for College-Bound Student Athletes,
universities can get in touch with potential recruits only during
the designated contact period. High school players cannot be
contacted by phone until June 21 of their junior year by a
university representative. College coaches cannot contact players
until after July 1 of the same year.
Craven, a senior at Bishop Montgomery High in Torrance, met
Lavin at his high school coach’s office in March of last
year.
“When I first learned about this yesterday, I attempted to
interview the high school coach at Bishop Montgomery,” Dalis
said. “He said that Coach Lavin and Coach (Jim) Saia had gone
to visit him. Errick Craven came in to ask his coach about an
all-star game he was to play in. The coach introduced his player to
Coach Lavin and they just exchanged pleasantries.”
The Daily News reported that Williams recollects Lavin having
called him “all the time” last season during his junior
year at Centennial High in Corona.
“The father of Jamal Williams tried to call Lavin
(Thursday) morning,” Dalis said. “He was irritated by
the story and said it was untrue. He went on to say that he
believes his son was manipulated by the writer.”
According to the UCLA athletic department, Dalis and Lavin spent
most of Thursday discussing the issue at length. Dalis has been in
contact with the Pac-10 Conference about the matter. If it is found
to be valid, the conference may pass the case along to the NCAA for
review.
“I have no reason to believe that the (allegations) are
credible,” Dalis said. “No one is in trouble
here.”
Dalis asked Lavin not to discuss the matter publicly until the
Pac-10 finishes its inquiry.
The possible misconduct by the men’s basketball program
comes during the final month of a three-year NCAA probationary
sentence that dates back to a violation uncovered in November of
1996.
In that instance it was discovered by university investigators
that then-Head Coach Jim Harrick made excessive phone calls to
recruits among other unacceptable infractions. Sanctions were
released by the NCAA in April 1998, the start of the probationary
period.
If the NCAA were to find a major violation in the UCLA
men’s basketball program within five years of the
probationary period, this would mark the school and the program as
a repeat violator.
The “death penalty,” as it is called for repeat
offenders, has strict guidelines for punishment in the event of a
major violation.
The NCAA could issue punishment in the form of a
“show-cause” order mandating that UCLA dismiss any
athletic department staff member involved with the violation.
The team could also be prohibited from some or all outside
competition ““ including participating in the NCAA
Tournament.
Finally, the NCAA Enforcement Staff could order the elimination
of initial grant-in-aid scholarships and recruiting activities.
Craven recalls three meetings with Lavin prior to July 1 of last
year ““ twice on unofficial visits to the UCLA campus and the
other at Bishop Montgomery.
“He came up to my school,” said Craven, who starred
with his twin brother Derrick for the Knights. “He was
talking about what kind of role I’d play if I went
there.”
Williams stated on two different occasions to the Daily News
that members of the UCLA coaching staff phoned his home multiple
times during his junior season at Centennial.
He added that former UCLA assistant coach Michael Holton ““
who accepted the head coaching job at the University of Portland
Wednesday ““ usually made the calls.
“They acted like they really wanted me,” Williams
said. “As the year went on, they still showed interest. All
of the sudden, in the summer they acted like they weren’t
interested.”
The Bruins have already received letters of intent from three
members of the 2001 recruiting class: McDonald’s All-American
point guard Cedric Bozeman from Mater Dei in Santa Ana,
wing-forward Dijon Thompson from Redondo Union H.S. and center
Michael Fey from Olympia, Wash.
Dalis added that he and Lavin have received threatening e-mails
in the past. While an attempt to destroy the reputation of the
program may be the motive in this instance, prior anonymous
contacts have threatened the safety of both.
“We each had a similar situation last year where both
Coach Lavin and I were threatened with bodily harm,” Dalis
said. “We were able to find out who it was and take legal
action.
“We have attempted now to make contact with these people
to come forward. But it’s like boxing ghosts. This is just an
attempt to damage the program.”