Dive Brief:
- The University of Texas is investigating allegations that a so-called “fixer” provided a basketball player identified by the Chronicle of Higher Education, along with an unnamed player, with tests and notes to help them cheat in high school classes so they could be eligible for college sports.
- The university’s vice president for legal affairs, Patricia Ohlendorf, said the school found out about the allegations regarding J’Covan Brown, the former player named by the Chronicle, from the article.
- Brown told the Chronicle that he received the cheating help prior to attending Texas, through independent study classes at Brigham Young University.
Dive Insight:
The Chronicle’s in-depth story describes how the fixer came to exploit the system to help many athletes, including some who played in the NBA, become eligible for college basketball and football programs. It would seem likely that other universities will soon be announcing their own investigations based on the article. The University of Texas investigation will try to determine if any NCAA, Big 12, or university rules were broken. Ohlendorf said the allegations have been discussed by the university’s athletics department and central administration. Brown now plays pro ball in Russia.