USC’s Melton still sidelined
De’Anthony Melton won’t play in USC’s game at Vanderbilt on Sunday, according to his attorney, after being held out of the season’s first two games while the school investigates his eligibility in connection with the college basketball bribery and corruption case.
“USC is doing whatever they are doing in the face of convincing evidence De’Anthony has done nothing wrong,” his attorney, Vicki I. Podberesky, said. “I don’t know what they’re waiting for. It’s disappointing, to say the least.”
A USC spokesman referred to the statement the school issued earlier this month, saying Melton is being held out as a precaution.
Podberesky said representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York interviewed Melton for about 40 minutes last month in Tucson. In advance of the meeting, the attorney said the office told her they had no reason to believe Melton knew anything about the matter.
“He had no information to give,” Podberesky said.
Prosecutors alleged USC associate head coach Tony Bland facilitated a $5,000 payment to a “family member and/or close family friend” of a Trojans sophomore identified as Player-9. In exchange, the associate would steer the player to use would-be sports agent Christian Dawkins and financial advisor Munish Sood when the player joined the NBA. Podberesky confirmed Melton is Player-9.
The purported payment would violate NCAA rules, a separate matter from the federal investigation. USC could be penalized by the organization for using an ineligible player in a game.
The criminal complaint also accused a relative of a USC recruit, referred to as Player-8, of accepting $4,000.
Bland, on administrative leave since September, faces four charges. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday.
Podberesky said Melton never discussed agents or financial advisors with Bland, and that the player couldn’t identify Dawkins and Sood in photographs prosecutors showed him.
According to the attorney, USC searched Melton’s phone records and found no evidence of wrongdoing. He gave permission for the school to copy data from his phone in the coming week.
USC has interviewed Melton, his mother, Monique Young, and, in recent days, the man who allegedly accepted the $5,000 payment. Podberesky described him as a close family friend who has played an important role in Melton’s life.
An NCAA representative was on hand for the interviews with Melton and the family friend. Podberesky said prosecutors had not interviewed the friend.
“I think they are convinced De’Anthony doesn’t know anything,” Podberesky said of the school. “They’re trying to figure out if they’re certain [the family friend] didn’t take any money. How certain do they have to be? That’s where the problem is coming in . ... I don’t know how much assurance they need.”
Melton hasn’t spoken publicly about the situation. He was among 20 players on the preseason watch list for the Jerry West Award for the nation’s top shooting guard. TONIGHT AT VANDERBILT When: 5 p.m. PST Where: Memorial Gymnasium, Nashville. On the air: TV: SEC Network; Radio: 710. Update: No. 10 USC (2-0) got a scare last week from North Dakota State, which led by as many as 10 before USC took control for a 75-65 win. The first two games have been a showcase for juniors Chimezie Metu and Bennie Boatwright, who both turned down a chance at the NBA draft to return. In the first game, Metu scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds in just 23 minutes. Against North Dakota State, Boatwright scored 28 points, a career high.