Pickup basketball game results in NCAA violation, injury for Spartans assistant
Michigan State’s recruitment of three-star athlete Khari Willis involved a funny story, and an NCAA violation too, evidently.
According to Mlive.com, Michigan State self-reported a violation that occurred when Willis, who signed with the Spartans in their 2015 class, played a game of one-on-one basketball against MSU co-defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett on Aug. 7, 2014.
Barnett, a former All-American cornerback at MSU, tore his Achilles during the game.
“He backed coach Barnett right up underneath the basket, blew out his Achilles,” head coach Mark Dantonio said.
After Dantonio mentioned the pickup game during the Spartans’ signing day press conference, the school’s compliance department realized it was a Level III violation. According to the NCAA, Level III violations are “isolated or limited in nature” and “provide no more than a minimal recruiting, competitive or other advantage and do not include more than a minimal impressible benefit.”
From Mlive.com:
The MSU compliance department followed up on the information disclosed in the press conference and discovered the violation of NCAA Bylaw 13:11.2.3, which states:
"A prospective student-athlete visiting a member institution may participate in physical workouts or other recreational activities during a visit to an institution's campus, provided such activities:
(a) Are not organized or observed by members of the athletics department coaching staff; and
(b) Are not designed to test the athletics abilities of the prospective student-athlete."
Barnett later received a standard letter of admonishment in February from athletic director Mark Hollis due to the violation. He was also on crutches for eight weeks and was scheduled to have his knee replaced on Wednesday.
"I didn't know it was a workout for him at the time," Barnett said to MLive of the pickup game, "but it was a workout for me, that's for sure."
For more Michigan State news, visit SpartanMag.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
