NCAA rules on minor recruiting violation made by Duke’s Coach K
The NCAA accepted Duke’s self-reporting of a Level III violation committed by basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski last month and the matter is resolved, a school spokesman told The News & Observer Tuesday.
Krzyzewski violated an NCAA rule on Nov. 8 by mentioning DJ Steward, a Chicago prep basketball star who had committed to play for the Blue Devils. Steward had yet to sign his National Letter of Intent at that time.
During a press conference following Duke’s 89-55 win over Colorado State at Cameron Indoor Stadium, a Chicago Tribune reporter asked Krzyzewski, a Chicago native, about recruiting in his home town.
“I just enjoy recruiting anywhere there’s a good player, great kid who wants to come to Duke,” Krzyzewski said before a room full of media members. “We’ve had a few of those in Chicago, one that’s there right now in DJ and we’re happy that they finally stopped the teacher’s strike so he could go to Whitney Young and qualify to come here, although he’s qualified. Chicago’s a great town and I always love going back.”
NCAA bylaw 13.10.2.1 allows a member institution to comment publicly “only to the extent of confirming its recruitment of the prospective student-athlete.”
The rule prohibits commenting “generally about the prospective student-athlete’s ability or the contribution that the prospective student-athlete might make to the institution’s team; further, the institution is precluded from commenting in any manner as to the likelihood of the prospective student-athlete committing to or signing with that institution.”
Duke basketball spokesman Mike DeGeorge said Tuesday the school’s compliance office reported a Level III violation to the NCAA, which accepted that assessment.
Steward, who had committed to Duke on Sept. 18, signed his National Letter of Intent with Duke during the NCAA’s early signing period, which began on Nov. 13.
According to materials published by the NCAA, Level III violations of this bylaw normally result in the offending staff member receiving rules education and being forced to forfeit a contact opportunity, like a phone call or electronic communication.