Wendell Carter Jr. was the No. 7 overall pick last summer after his one-and-done season with Duke. So far, his NBA career has gotten off to a modest yet promising start with the Chicago Bulls before thumb surgery pressed pause on his rookie campaign.
But now, Carter’s name is tied to the NCAA investigation into possible recruiting violations stemming from his visit to Georgia Tech prior to signing with the Blue Devils. The probe implicated a former Georgia Tech assistant, Darryl LaBarrie, as well as Ron Bell, a former friend of head coach Josh Pastner.
Also mentioned is an alumni booster who has been identified as former Yellow Jacket and NBA journeyman Jarrett Jack, who allegedly gave Wendell Carter Jr. money to visit a local strip club during his recruitment trip to the school.
Jack, whom the NCAA declared to be a representative of Georgia Tech’s athletics interests, is alleged to have provided Carter and an unidentified then-Georgia Tech player with $300 for the strip club visit, the sources told ESPN.
***
LaBarrie is charged with offering impermissible recruiting benefits as well as failure to cooperate and unethical and dishonest conduct. LaBarrie is accused of providing false and misleading information to NCAA investigators and Georgia Tech officials regarding his knowledge of the alleged incident. He also is accused of trying to influence the player to provide misleading information to investigators.
Georgia Tech has been hit with three previous NCAA infractions this decade and has until May 16 to respond to the current allegations. Jack was released by the New Orleans Pelicans prior to the season and has not played in an NBA game since.
(Via ESPN)
