It's worth mentioning that Bam Adebayo had a guardian named Eric Peartree that was HEAVILY involved in his recruitment. When UK was closing to committing to Kentucky that's when Peartree was pushed out of the picture. Completely lost all connection to Bam. I remember Calipari having quotes about guardians after Bam committed and I always thought that was directed at Peartree and his involvement in Bam.
In my opinion something happened here. Either UK knew Peartree was bad news and he was brokering deals on Bam's behalf, or the deals started happening after Peartree was squeezed out. If it's the latter then that would assume that UK was brokering the deals for Bam Adebayo. Personally I find that hard to believe.
Peartree called me today to say he was surprised that Bam was mentioned but not surprised with the acts of payments to players. He just thought Bam would be clean. Take that for what it's worth. He said he never met with agents and never received money.
As for Kevin Knox, I'm not concerned in the slightest. Sources tell me UK is aware of a potential meeting, although they (and the family) didn't think the meeting discussed basketball related business. I also think there's a chance UK already detailed this information to the NCAA before the season, but I don't know that for sure. If Kevin Knox plays tomorrow I wouldn't worry in the slightest about his role in all of this.
I don't have any inside information on Nerlens Noel, but he was the only guy mentioned behind the scenes as possibly being mentioned in all of this. He had a relationship with Miller (obviously). The payment is dated two years after Noel left Kentucky, and if we're being honest, the worst case scenario is UK having to vacate games from November to February and the Cats went to the NIT.
I've been asked this a lot... the worst case scenario for UK with the information provided today (I don't think this will be it):
- Possibly vacate 17 wins in 2013
- Vacate the 2017 season
- Vacate 19 wins this season (that may be possible if Knox doesn't play another game this season but I'm doubting anything happens this year)
If UK coaches aren't mentioned as knowing I don't know if probation could be in play, but probation is pretty meaningless. All you have to do is have extra check-ins with the NCAA. I doubt you'd see a scholarship reduction and a postseason ban without any of UK's staff knowing seems highly unlikely.
This morning's news isn't good news for UK, but I don't think it's crushing. I could learn more and have a change of opinion, but what's out there this morning isn't all that terrible. At least not for previous championships or the chance at landing future championships. But I do think there will be more "groundbreaking" college basketball news. More UK players may be mentioned and if that's the case we'll have to reevaluate everything.
Kevin Knox playing tomorrow will be a big tell.
In my opinion something happened here. Either UK knew Peartree was bad news and he was brokering deals on Bam's behalf, or the deals started happening after Peartree was squeezed out. If it's the latter then that would assume that UK was brokering the deals for Bam Adebayo. Personally I find that hard to believe.
Peartree called me today to say he was surprised that Bam was mentioned but not surprised with the acts of payments to players. He just thought Bam would be clean. Take that for what it's worth. He said he never met with agents and never received money.
As for Kevin Knox, I'm not concerned in the slightest. Sources tell me UK is aware of a potential meeting, although they (and the family) didn't think the meeting discussed basketball related business. I also think there's a chance UK already detailed this information to the NCAA before the season, but I don't know that for sure. If Kevin Knox plays tomorrow I wouldn't worry in the slightest about his role in all of this.
I don't have any inside information on Nerlens Noel, but he was the only guy mentioned behind the scenes as possibly being mentioned in all of this. He had a relationship with Miller (obviously). The payment is dated two years after Noel left Kentucky, and if we're being honest, the worst case scenario is UK having to vacate games from November to February and the Cats went to the NIT.
I've been asked this a lot... the worst case scenario for UK with the information provided today (I don't think this will be it):
- Possibly vacate 17 wins in 2013
- Vacate the 2017 season
- Vacate 19 wins this season (that may be possible if Knox doesn't play another game this season but I'm doubting anything happens this year)
If UK coaches aren't mentioned as knowing I don't know if probation could be in play, but probation is pretty meaningless. All you have to do is have extra check-ins with the NCAA. I doubt you'd see a scholarship reduction and a postseason ban without any of UK's staff knowing seems highly unlikely.
This morning's news isn't good news for UK, but I don't think it's crushing. I could learn more and have a change of opinion, but what's out there this morning isn't all that terrible. At least not for previous championships or the chance at landing future championships. But I do think there will be more "groundbreaking" college basketball news. More UK players may be mentioned and if that's the case we'll have to reevaluate everything.
Kevin Knox playing tomorrow will be a big tell.
