Memphis’ NCAA case goes to independent investigation arm

Memphis’ NCAA case involving the recruitment of star basketball player James Wiseman will go through the association’s new independent investigation arm.

The NCAA announced Wednesday the school’s request to have the infraction case resolved through the Independent Accountability Resolution Process had been granted. This will be the first known case to be handled by the IARP.

The NCAA suspended Wiseman 12 games early this season because the former five-star recruit’s family received $11,500 from former Memphis player and current Tigers coach Penny Hardaway to assist in a move from Nashville to Memphis in the summer of 2017.

Although Hardaway wasn’t Memphis’ coach at the time, the NCAA ruled the payment wasn’t allowed because he was a booster for the program. The former NBA All- Star gave $1 million in 2008 to his alma mater for the university’s sports hall of fame.

After the NCAA ruled Wiseman had to sit out 12 games and donate $11,500 to charity to regain his college eligibility, he left Memphis in December.

The IARP was created last year to handle some high-profile cases involving potentially serious infractions. The process includes investigators, advocates and decision-makers with no direct ties to NCAA member schools.

Creating a new process for dealing with some infractions cases was one of several recommendations made in 2018 by the Rice Commission on college basketball. The commission, created in response to an FBI investigation into college basketball recruiting, concluded the NCAA’s existing investigation and enforcement structure was rife with potential and perceived conflicts of interest.

The process uses the Complex Case Unit featuring outside investigators before going to the Independent Resolution Panel, which would select five of its 15 members — who have legal, sports or higher- education backgrounds — to issue a final decision that is not subject to appeal.

The 7- foot-1 Wiseman was considered one of the best recruits in the country, a likely one-and- done college player and future NBA lottery pick. Hewas the centerpiece of loaded recruiting class that raised expectations for Memphis coming into this season. The Tigers were ranked No. 14 in the preseason AP Top 25.

The NCAA notified Memphis that Wiseman was “likely ineligible” just before the start of the season. He went to court and sued the NCAA and the University of Memphis. He played two games under a temporary restraining order obtained Nov. 8 less than an hour before tipoff of the Tigers’ second game of the season.