The fallout from Tuesday’s NCAA bribery and corruption scandal continues to spill out new developments. Let’s look at Wednesday’s timeline.
Auburn Class of 2018 commit E.J. Montgomery was the first domino to fall. The 6-foot-10 forward decommitted from the Tigers after assistant coach Chuck Person was among the four college coaches arrested for the for fraud and corruption.
Later, Louisville’s basketball program continued to spiral out of control. The school announced in a press conference that head coach Rick Pitino will be placed on unpaid leave and athletic director Tom Jurich is on paid leave. However, interim Louisville president Greg Postel says that the program is essentially cleaning house. Translation? Pitino and Jurich are packing their bags.
Along with Pitino and Jurich’s all-but dismissal, the player who was identified as “a Louisville player” in reports was revealed. Five-star forward Brian Bowen, who was getting looks, but never an offer from Syracuse, will be held out of all NCAA activities, according to Postel.
Then less than an hour after Louisville officially made its statement regarding Pitino, five-star Anfernee Simons decommitted from the Cardinals via his Twitter account.
THANK YOU LOUISVILLE #L1C4 pic.twitter.com/UQSRWa7OHK
— Anfernee Simons (@AnferneeSimons) September 27, 2017
Then moments later, Courtney Ramey followed suit and decommitted from Lousiville.
With Montgomery’s decommitment and Bowen’s ineligibility, this should only be the beginning of what could be a whirlwind of recruiting movement. Amongst recruits in the classes of 2017 and 2018, The Fizz compiled a list of players from the schools involved in this scandal (Oklahoma State, Arizona, Louisville, USC and allegedly Miami) who received offers from Syracuse and the likelihood they could consider the Orange if they were to reopen their recruitment.
DISCLAIMER: None of these players have reopened recruitment or decommitted. This is purely speculation based upon guys that Syracuse extended offers to.
Brandon Randolph, SG Arizona
Randolph is by far and away the most intriguing possibility on this list. Back in September, 2016, the guard placed the Orange in his final four along with Arizona, Oregon and Wake Forest. The 6-foot-6 New York product could certainly put SU back into his college circulation. Since Randolph is already enrolled at Arizona, he would have to sit out one season, per transfer rules. But if Randolph wants to free himself from the shackles of this scandal, the Orange is certainly a fascinating scenario.
Jahvon Quinerly, PG Arizona (Class of 2018)
Quinerly likely won’t be playing with the Wildcats, or with any team as a matter of fact. The point guard is linked to the infractions by Arizona assistant Book Richardson. The case says that a promising high school point guard that committed to the Wildcats on or around August 9th received money from Richardson. Quinerly committed on August 8th, and is the only high schooler to commit within two months of that August 9th. You be the judge.
Lonnie Walker, SG Miami
Walker listed the Orange in his top 5 back in August 2016. However, like Quinerly, Walker may be in hot water with the NCAA. The player who reportedly received $150,000 from Miami is still unknown, however, there is speculation that it is Walker. Regardless of whether or not the guard is guilty, there is no reason for Walker to come to Syracuse. He is a one-and-done candidate that DraftExpress.com projects as a lottery pick in next year’s NBA Draft. Walker would likely stay at Miami, venture off to Europe or the G-League or drop game action altogether and spend the upcoming months training for the draft.
