As a result of the FBI’s investigation into college basketball recruiting, the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions banned the Oklahoma State men’s basketball program from participating in next year’s postseason play, according to CBS Sports. The punishment, in addition to other penalties issued by the NCAA, puts the future of rising freshman phenom, and OSU commit, Cade Cunningham into question.
What We Know:
- The penalty is rooted in the Level 1 unethical conduct charge against former Oklahoma State associate head coach Lamont Evans.
- Through wiretaps and undercover videos, Evans was caught in 2017 committing recruiting schemes at OSU and South Carolina where he linked potential prospects with a sports agency run by Christian Dawkins. It was later revealed that the agency was funded by the FBI to help prove the case.
- Evans plead guilty to bribery charges, which included accepting $18,150 with the potential of receiving as much as $46,000. He served 3 months in prison in the summer of 2019.
- The news has left many wondering whether five-star commit and class of 2020 top prospect Cade Cunningham will be wearing a Cowboys uniform next season.
Other penalties placed against the program include: Three years of probation, the loss of three men’s basketball scholarships during the 2020-21 through 2022-23 academic years, a $10,000 fine plus 1% of the programs budget, and restrictions on recruiting via reduction of unofficial visits, telephone calls, and recruiting person days.
