Alabama basketball could benefit from FBI probe of Auburn

Chuck Connors Person, known in the NBA as ‘The Rifleman’ is in big trouble with the FBI. Allegedly Person took bribe money and funneled it to recruits. Alabama basketball could benefit.

Auburn assistant basketball coach and former Auburn and NBA star, Chuck Person has been charged with bribery by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York has charged ten individuals, including an Adidas executive and the head of the  Nike Youth League and basketball coaches from Auburn, Arizona, Oklahoma State and USC.

It is not known if or to what extent the FBI has disclosed information to the NCAA. Make no mistake, if these charges lead to convictions, the NCAA must also take action against the schools with guilty employees.

Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports said this,

"While only four schools are currently involved, the complaints will provide a treasure map for NCAA investigators as it tells stories of endless payouts and kickbacks in the recruitment of numerous top prospects over the past three years."

How dirty is college basketball recruiting?

The details of the charges paint a picture of pervasive corruption in the world of college basketball. The investigation is centered around a ‘cooperating witness’ who in 2016 was accused of securities fraud.

"a “cooperating witness” who is described as operating an athlete management business (a financial planner who handled the money for pro athletes), the FBI was able to get an undercover agent into hotel rooms, meetings and deals."

In summary, an individual from a company specializing in financial planning for athletes, paid assistant coaches to foster relationships with future basketball stars. The payments (bribes) to the coaches were then used to recruit such players to the universities that employed the coaches. In some cases, those recruiting efforts included money funneled to the players or their families.

It is possible that these assistant coaches participated in this nefarious scheme without the knowledge of their head coaches or the schools where they were employed. To date, no head coaches have been mentioned as being involved.

Yahoo Sports, Dan Wetzel described one of the transactions,

"“The bribe money was structured in a manner so to conceal it from the NCAA and officials at University-6 by among other things having Company-1 wire money to a third party consultants who them facilitated cash payments to Player-10s family.”"

How bad could this be for Auburn?

How bad is this for Chuck Person, Bruce Pearl, Jay Jacobs, Auburn basketball and Auburn University? Potentially very bad VERY BAD. For one, Chuck Person could go to jail if found guilty. Given Bruce Pearl’s history of lying to the NCAA and asking assistant coaches and parents of recruits to lie to the NCAA, it is easy to assume Pearl was aware of Person’s activities.

But that assumption is conjecture only. It would be shocking to learn that Jay Jacobs knew anything about the scheme. We highly doubt Jacobs was complicit. The problem for Jacobs is his already shaky standing at Auburn after the softball scandal and the broad dissatisfaction with Gus Malzahn.

There is no way of knowing what action the NCAA may or may not take in investigating Auburn. Chuck Person has not been convicted of anything. He may not be guilty. Or he may be guilty of actions that at the least, will bring down Auburn basketball for many years.

The investigation suggests that Person told recruits the payments were violations of NCAA rules and the recruits should not disclose them to anyone, even other family members. If that is proven, Auburn is in big trouble.

Below is the entire Chuck Person complaint, compliments of 247 Sports.

Download U.S. v. Chuck Person and Rashan Michael Complaint

Does this benefit Alabama basketball?

The quick and easy answer is yes. No one is above reproach but in the college coaching careers of Anthony Grant and Avery Johnson, no credible source has ever accused them of breaking NCAA rules, much less committing a crime.

If it is proven, the Bruce Pearl led Auburn program is guilty of crimes and/or NCAA violations, it would help Alabama basketball recruiting. Before we Alabama basketball fans do too much rejoicing over a potential Auburn demise, a word of caution.

For decades college basketball has carried the reputation of widespread recruiting violations. It is believed the NCAA has done a poor job of catching the biggest violators. Having the FBI potentially, successfully prosecute crimes against coaches of any high-profile schools, taints the game and harms everyone.

Then again, perhaps this is the only way to clean up college basketball recruiting. If so, Alabama basketball fans should be happier about a cleaner game than the potential demise of a rival.

Next: Ranking all the SEC Basketball Coaches

While this story and potential scandal will drag out for months, actual college basketball games are coming soon. It will be an exciting season for Alabama basketball and we will work to keep you informed throughout.