| | Associated Press
DURHAM, N.C. -- Former Duke player Corey Maggette denies accepting $2,000 from an AAU coach, an accusation that could cost the Blue Devils considerably more if proved.
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| Maggette |
The penalty could be as much as $180,000 and the 1999 NCAA runner-up trophy.
NCAA spokeswoman Jane Jankowski said vacating tournament finishes and returning winnings are established penalties if a school is found to have used an ineligible player. The penalties still hold even if the school did not know the player was ineligible.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said neither he nor his staff knew of any alleged payments by Myron Piggie until after Maggette left for the NBA. Maggette completed his rookie season with the Orlando Magic.
Piggie was indicted last week, accused of defrauding UCLA, Duke, Missouri and Oklahoma State by giving cash to high school basketball players.
Piggie is said to have paid Maggette $2,000 in 1997 when Piggie was Maggette's coach on a summer league team.
"I've been listening to a lot of stuff, and it's not true," Maggette told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday. When asked if he denied the accusations, Maggette said, "Yeah, definitely."
The NCAA said there is no timetable for a decision on whether Maggette actually received money from Piggie.
"We didn't find out anything until about five months after Corey left," Krzyzewski said Thursday. "We've cooperated fully with the NCAA since it was brought to our attention."
Maggette was not at Duke when the alleged payments came to light. The players at the other schools were still enrolled and were suspended from playing. Among them was UCLA's JaRon Rush.
Duke's top reserve as a freshman, Maggette was a key member of one of the greatest teams in school history. The 1998-99 Blue Devils finished 37-2, tying the NCAA record for the most wins by a school in one season. Duke lost to Connecticut 77-74 in the NCAA championship game.
Maggette then left Duke for the NBA draft along with Elton Brand and William Avery. | |
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