Raise your hand if saw this one coming …
Pete Thamel, The New York Times college sports reporter who is among the best at his trade, published a story late Friday night revealing the NCAA is looking into former Kentucky guard Eric Bledsoe.
The Times story, which you can read in its entirety at this link, says the NCAA is investigating dramatic changes in Bledsoe’s high school transcript and extra benefits he allegedly received as a senior at Parker High in Birmingham, AL. The Alabama High School Association is also investigating, according to the Times.
Kentucky, meanwhile, is already on the defense. The university issued this statement on Saturday:
Often high profile student-athletes are selected for an extensive prospective student-athlete (PSA) review. Eric Bledsoe participated in the normal academic review process and also an extensive PSA review by the NCAA Eligibility Center and was cleared academically.
While this may be true, it’s also important to remember that it’s not uncommon for the NCAA to retroactively declare a player ineligible following a more extensive investigation. (See Rose, Derrick.)
Bledsoe, Kentucky coach John Calipari, UK President Lee Todd or Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart have yet to comment publicly on the Times story.
+ Recruiting red flags and Calipari (Lexington Herald-Leader)
+ NCAA investigating Bledsoe (ESPN.com)
+ NCAA looks into Bledsoe’s past in Birmingham (Birmingham News)
Filed to: Eric Bledsoe, Kentucky Wildcats