The 2018 NBA Draft fallout of NCAA investigations

As the FBI investigation presses on, reports now cite new names and collegiate basketball programs. But what of the 2018 NBA Draft?

There is plenty of news right now about the FBI looking into the allegations of widespread scandal of money in NCAA Mens Basketball. Now new information sufaces as NCAA conferences prepare their championship series.  Despite the proximity of the NCAA tournament, Yahoo Sports has reported on documents from the FBI investigation.

We’ve already published an article on the implications of Markelle Fultz during his time at the University of Washington.  For now, the only Philadelphia 76ers player identified in the investigations is Fultz. But even if proven true, there is little likelihood of any repercussions for Fultz. As is the case with all former college players, he is now beyond any NCAA sanctions.

Current NCAA players implicated as well

But the NCAA investigation includes current players, and coaches, which will have a significant impact in the finale to this season. That being said, what sort of impact should any NBA team expect, and the Philadelphia 76ers in particular? Not in their current roster, but in what could be a rather complicated mess to sort through leading up to the 2018 NBA Draft.

Here is the list of active NCAA players named in the Yahoo report: Due to the sensitive nature of this information, I will cite the information as presented by Pat Forde and Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports:

"“Current USC player Bennie Boatwright and/or his father, Bennie Sr. (According to documents, they received at least $2,000.)Current USC player Chimezie Metu and/or adviser, Johnnie Parker. (According to documents, they received $2,000.)Current Texas player Eric Davis. (According to documents, he received $1,500.)Current South Carolina player Brian Bowen, who was ensnared in the initial federal investigation and started his career at Louisville last fall until the school withheld him from competition. His father, Brian Sr., also received money, according to the documents. (Dawkins’ expense reports also list more than $1,500 in plane tickets for Bowen, his father and his mother. He and his family received at least $7,000 in benefits, according to the documents.)Among those receiving hundreds of dollars in advances, according to Dawkins’ expense reports:The mother of current Michigan State player Miles Bridges.having meals with Dawkins:Current Alabama player Collin Sexton.(and) Current Duke player Wendell Carter.Current Kentucky player Kevin Knox.”"

That’s the current list.

FBI wiretap too

And oh.. .there is that small matter of the FBI wiretap of Arizona Coach Sean Miller.

So what does that all mean? On the surface, not much. After all, the NCAA rules restricting payments to players and players’ families fades immediately upon that player’s transition to the NBA. But it does have some impact on the 2018 NBA Draft. After all, this will not be the typical NCAA tournament year, will it?

How’s your mock draft doing?

This is that time of year when almost the entire nation tries their hand at the NCAA Bracket predictions. But this season, there is a new twist. How is your mock draft doing?  To illustrate, I will use that ever important website service Tankathon.com and their mock draft feature.

The objective? Identify players in the most recent mock who COULD be impacted by the ongoing FBI/NCAA investigation.  But what sort of impact? If the NCAA investigation arrives at a conclusion that rules violations had occured, the players could be suspended from NCAA competition. Who might suffer such sanctioning?   Let’s give it a go:

Round One

Center DeAndre Ayton – Arizona.  Current reports link head coach Sean Miller to payments via FBI wiretap to ensure Ayton would land at Arizona.

Forward Miles Bridges – Michigan State. Mother cited as receiving hundreds of dollars in advances

Forward Wendall Carter – Duke. Reports cite Carter having meals with Christian Dawkins, and the meal cost appearing on Dawkins expense account.

Forward Kevin Knox – Kentucky. Reports cite Knox having meals with Christian Dawkins, and the meal cost appearing on Dawkins expense account.

Guard Colin Sexton – Alabama. Reports cite Sexton having meals with Christian Dawkins, and the meal cost appearing on Dawkins expense account

Round Two

Forward Chimezie Metu – USC. As cited above, reports he received $2,000

Now these players can still declare for the NBA Draft, participate in the NBA Combine, and play for NBA teams. But many of the mock drafts and projections presumed a clean record going into that NBA Draft.  Should evidence continue to emerge from investigations changing those perceptions, the NBA Draft landscape will change as well.

As of now, the Philadelphia 76ers select at 10, 17, 37, 39, 47 and 60. And with those picks, they will be selecting from this NBA Draft Board.

Next: Will Philadelphia 76ers make room for Ersan Ilyasova?

But this NBA Draft will be like no other. In the end, it may mean nothing if NBA teams block out new information and focus solely on basketball talents. Or it could mean a great deal, as significant players are named in the alleged transgressions.