Report: UGA freshman received extra benefits

By Jeff Borzello

Ever since Kentavious Caldwell-Pope committed to Georgia, there were questions surrounding his eligiblity. Once he academically qualified for the fall a few weeks ago, everything seemed to be set in terms of Caldwell-Pope’s arrival on campus.

There might be a setback, though – and it has nothing to do with grades.

On Sunday, Andy Bitter of the Ledger-Enquirer (Ga.) reported that Caldwell-Pope and Georgia football player Jarvis Jones received extra benefits from two people who ran their AAU basketball team.

Tony Adams and Herman Porter run the Georgia Blazers, a Nike-sponsored travel team that has produced numerous Division-I prospects over the years. According to Bitter, a police investigation into the Columbus (Ga.) Parks and Recreation Department -- which is also run by Adams and Porter -- found purchases that could put the amatuer statuses of Caldwell-Pope and Jones into question.

“Police records show that an unauthorized bank account controlled by Adams and Porter was used to pay for flights to and from Los Angeles for Jarvis Jones . . . and for the cell phone bill of the mother of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.”

Jones, who played one year at USC before returning home, received $828.40 worth of flights from a Georgia Blazers’ credit card. Caldwell-Pope’s mother, Rhonda Caldwell, had a cell phone bill of $280.90 paid for using money from the Blazers’ bank account.

“NCAA rules do not allow amateur sports organizations to provide expenses for athletes in excess of actual and necessary travel, room and board, apparel and equipment for competition and practice.”

Baylor forward Perry Jones was suspended six games in March when the NCAA determined his AAU coach gave extra expenses to his mother and also paid for a flight.

Caldwell-Pope is the highest-profile recruit Georgia has signed in many years, rated as a five-star prospect by most outlets. His deep 3-point shooting range is expected to provide an immediate boost to the Bulldogs’ perimeter.

Bitter reported in the story that the NCAA was aware of the allegations.

Photo: Bleacher Report

Report: UGA freshman received extra benefits

When I was a high school senior, I was already making money playing in a rock band, but my parents still paid for some things related to me. I never once asked the source of the money they used to pay the auto insurance, I just drove the cars. "Family plans" for cell phones make sense financially, and if I had had one ( they didn't exist when I was a senior ), I am sure that I wouldn't have had a separate account. And, I never would have asked my parents how they paid the bill. I might have asked about it if the thing were turned off for non-payment, but if it was working I never would have said anything. I don't think I remember my daughter ever asking how I paid for her cell phone.

Report: UGA freshman received extra benefits

jrmdvm1 Since: Feb 4, 2008	Posted on: June 27, 2011 11:00 pm Report: UGA freshman received extra benefits When I was a high school senior, I was already making money playing in a rock band, but my parents still paid for some things related to me. I never once asked the source of the money they used to pay the auto insurance, I just drove the cars. "Family plans" for cell phones make sense financially, and if I had had one ( they didn't exist when I was a senior ), I am sure that I wouldn't have had a separate account. And, I never would have asked my parents how they paid the bill. I might have asked about it if the thing were turned off for non-payment, but if it was working I never would have said anything. I don't think I remember my daughter ever asking how I paid for her cell phone. [ Reply to Comment ]
dkh-fl Since: Sep 5, 2010	Posted on: June 27, 2011 7:28 pm Report: UGA freshman received extra benefits Sadly @Ramzzz86 is correct... it looks as if the parent received the benefit and not the supposed amateur student-athlete. It would seem this loophole is the ace-in-the-hole for all of the SEC tomfoolery and the even more corrupt NCAA continues to lap it up. This reeks of our financial industry. Everyone wonders why these blatant crooks aren’t being tried and arrested and it’s because they bought off the politicians to remove any/all legitimate regulations and common sense – i.e. you can’t break the law if there isn’t (any more) an applicable law to break. SEC = BIG BANKS/FINANCE NCAA = LACK OF LEGAL/POLITICAL OVERSIGHT and REGULATION As sad as it is ridiculous. [ Reply to Comment ]
Ramzzz86 Since: Jun 27, 2011	Posted on: June 27, 2011 7:05 pm Report: UGA freshman received extra benefits I love that you assume I created an account to post a response. To humor you, I've been on this website since 2003. I updated my info, which by the standards of CBS Sports makes me a new person. None - the - less, you obviously received nothing more than a elementary education in English. The word "freshman" in itself, can be both singular or plural. Go ahead and say these next couple of sentences out loud to yourself. "Kathy is going to be a great upcoming freshman on the volleyball team." "Jeez Bob, these freshman linebackers are unreal." To help you out more, I commented on some lackluster English skills that you currently have. "The title say UGA freshman..." - haha. Please, tell me my English skills are bad. "Your are make an inference...." You can't write well, at all. Try again buddy. Now, although I love you posted your 28th message on your account about my reading skills, let me finally state that the article clearly discussed two different athletes. One of which, if you read again, has been at the college level for more than a year. The other, is a true freshman, because he has not yet been at the college level for more than a month. To conclude, it was obvious and correct, to make the "inference to as which player the title references." [ Reply to Comment ]
VegasRunninReb Since: Mar 24, 2008	Posted on: June 27, 2011 4:40 pm Report: UGA freshman received extra benefits I love that you created an account to post your response. The title say UGA freshman, which is singular. Your are make an inference to as to which player the title references. [ Reply to Comment ]
Ramzzz86 Since: Jun 27, 2011	Posted on: June 27, 2011 1:36 pm Report: UGA freshman received extra benefits The title of this article is bordering libel based on the information within it. "Caldwell-Pope’s mother, Rhonda Caldwell, had a cell phone bill of $280.90 paid for using money from the Blazers’ bank account." That statement means that the athlete did not directly receive benefits, the parent did. I went ahead an did more research on this (probably more than the author did) and read that Caldwell's mother's phone bill that was allegedly paid for by the Georgia Blazers, included the 4 phone numbers. One of the numbers on the account was one used by Caldwell-Pope. This still does not prove that the athlete took benefits. This simply means that the athlete's mother received benefits. Let me introduce the Cam Newton investigation, sense that has set a precedent for these situations. Unless it can be proven that Caldwell-Pope knew about these alleged benefits his mother received, than this article is nothing more than a rumor. [ Reply to Comment ]

Sadly @Ramzzz86 is correct... it looks as if the parent received the benefit and not the supposed amateur student-athlete. It would seem this loophole is the ace-in-the-hole for all of the SEC tomfoolery and the even more corrupt NCAA continues to lap it up.

This reeks of our financial industry. Everyone wonders why these blatant crooks aren’t being tried and arrested and it’s because they bought off the
politicians to remove any/all legitimate regulations and common sense – i.e. you can’t break the law if there isn’t (any more) an applicable law to break.

SEC = BIG BANKS/FINANCE

NCAA = LACK OF LEGAL/POLITICAL OVERSIGHT and REGULATION

As sad as it is ridiculous.

Report: UGA freshman received extra benefits

I love that you assume I created an account to post a response. To humor you, I've been on this website since 2003. I updated my info, which by the standards of CBS Sports makes me a new person.

None - the - less, you obviously received nothing more than a elementary education in English. The word "freshman" in itself, can be both singular or plural. Go ahead and say these next couple of sentences out loud to yourself.

"Kathy is going to be a great upcoming freshman on the volleyball team."

"Jeez Bob, these freshman linebackers are unreal."

To help you out more, I commented on some lackluster English skills that you currently have.

"The title say UGA freshman..." - haha. Please, tell me my English skills are bad.

"Your are make an inference...." You can't write well, at all. Try again buddy.

Now, although I love you posted your 28th message on your account about my reading skills, let me finally state that the article clearly discussed two different athletes.

One of which, if you read again, has been at the college level for more than a year. The other, is a true freshman, because he has not yet been at the college level for more than a month.

To conclude, it was obvious and correct, to make the "inference to as which player the title references."

Report: UGA freshman received extra benefits

The title of this article is bordering libel based on the information within it.

"Caldwell-Pope’s mother, Rhonda Caldwell, had a cell phone bill of $280.90 paid for using money from the Blazers’ bank account."

That statement means that the athlete did not directly receive benefits, the parent did.

I went ahead an did more research on this (probably more than the author did) and read that Caldwell's mother's phone bill that was allegedly paid for by the Georgia Blazers, included the 4 phone numbers. One of the numbers on the account was one used by Caldwell-Pope.

This still does not prove that the athlete took benefits. This simply means that the athlete's mother received benefits.

Let me introduce the Cam Newton investigation, sense that has set a precedent for these situations. Unless it can be proven that Caldwell-Pope knew about these alleged benefits his mother received, than this article is nothing more than a rumor.

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