The University of South Carolina has issued a statement regarding the FBI’s recent investigation into college basketball recruiting.
In the statement, athletic director Ray Tanner states that the university is not one of the schools being targeted in the investigation.
He also states that no current or former employees have been linked to any wrongdoing, other than former assistant coach Lamont Evans, who worked for Frank Martin at South Carolina from 2012 to 2016.
“The University of South Carolina has been made aware that it is not the target of the Department of Justice investigation and we have received no information to indicate that any current or former member of the USC staff is involved in the federal investigation, other than the previously identified former assistant coach, Lamont Evans.
“To proactively demonstrate our commitment to integrity and compliance, we will hire an independent third party that specializes in NCAA matters to conduct a review of the issues that relate to the federal investigation. Our review will be conducted in coordination with the Department of Justice and the NCAA in a collaborative manner.
“The Athletics Department has an extensive education and monitoring program and conducts regular training sessions with coaches and student athletes on NCAA rules. Our efforts have been praised and we expect this review will affirm that once again.
“We thank our fans for their continued support of Gamecock Basketball and look forward to the opening exhibition game October 30 at Colonial Life Arena.
Evans was one of the assistant coaches charged in the FBI’s case, along with Auburn’s Chuck Person, Arizona’s Book Richardson, and USC’s Tony Bland.
Evans was fired by Oklahoma State on Thursday due to his involvement in the matter.
Lovell’s Analysis
It’s no surprise to hear that South Carolina will hire an independent third party to make sure that no one within the program is linked to Evans’ actions, as that’s a smart move given the magnitude of this situation and the impact that he had on the program during his time in Columbia.
Other SEC schools have initiated internal reviews to cover all bases after this scandal rocked the college basketball world on Tuesday.
We have already seen Person charged for his involvement and Alabama associate athletic director Kobie Baker resign following an internal review.
Again, the positive here is that South Carolina has been made aware that the DOJ has no information that would call for an investigation.
And in a week filled with a lot of negative headlines in college basketball, that’s at least a step in the right direction since many teams are schedule to begin practice this weekend.