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NCAA extends investigation into LSU athletics; case involves ‘at least’ 13 men’s basketball recruits, records show
The NCAA was scheduled to complete its investigation of alleged violations within the LSU men’s basketball and football programs by July 31, but that deadline has been extended, further stretching
The NCAA was scheduled to complete its investigation of alleged violations within the LSU men’s basketball and football programs by July 31, but that deadline has been extended, further stretching an investigation that has lasted roughly three years.
Documents shared between LSU and the NCAA, which The Advocate obtained through a public records request, revealed the latest in a probe that lumped the football and men’s basketball cases together by referring them last year to the Independent Accountability Review Process, a group designed to handle complex NCAA infractions.
LSU had requested a separation of the football and basketball cases, which the NCAA denied.
The IARP’s complex case unit and LSU agreed upon a July 31 completion date for the investigation, but LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard confirmed the completion date had been extended and that the investigation is still ongoing. LSU declined further comment.
Once the investigation ends, the complex case unit will have 60 days to issue LSU a notice of allegations, documents showed, which could affect men’s basketball coach Will Wade’s future at the school.
The case will then be heard by a review panel that determines if violations occurred and levies penalties. That panel’s decisions are final and cannot be appealed — a key reason why LSU wanted the football and men’s basketball cases separated.
The LSU men’s basketball case includes alleged violations involving “at least 13 prospective student athletes and a projected 75 individuals who may have knowledge of, and/or involvement in, the alleged violations," according to a December letter from external investigator Nicole Lamb-Hale and LSU compliance director Bo Bahnsen.
The NCAA has investigated alleged recruiting violations under Wade since 2018. After Yahoo Sports published excerpts from a conversation wiretapped by the FBI between Wade and now-convicted middleman Christian Dawkins, in which Wade described a "strong-ass offer” to a recruit, Wade initially declined to meet with LSU and NCAA officials. The decision led to an indefinite suspension that lasted 37 days in 2019. Wade eventually spoke with the groups.
As part of his reinstatement, Wade forfeited $250,000 in incentives for the 2018-19 season. LSU also added a clause to Wade’s contract that allows the school to fire him with cause if it receives a notice of allegations for either a Level 1 or Level 2 violation. Wade’s attorney, Steven Thompson, could not be reached for comment.
“My expectation is that our athletic director (Scott Woodward) would — if something is contractually laid out — that he would execute the contract,” LSU president William F. Tate IV said during a meeting with The Advocate’s editorial board Thursday.
LSU’s case began under investigation by the NCAA enforcement staff, but last September, the governing body moved the case to the Independent Accountability Review Process.
The enforcement staff recommended the move because 13 months had passed before the group received Wade’s complete cellphone image records, which totaled nearly 60,000, according to documents obtained by The Advocate last year through a public records request.
