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USF Self-Reports 4 Minor Men's Basketball Violations

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 12, 2008

TAMPA - The University of South Florida uncovered and self-reported four secondary violations in the men's basketball program Wednesday in response to a Tampa Tribune public records request filed Tuesday.

The violations were for allowing returning starters Dominique Jones, Jesus Verdejo and Chris Howard and reserve forward Aris Williams to compete in summer leagues without approval from USF athletic director Doug Woolard as required by the NCAA's bylaws.

Gus Gilchrist, Mike Mercer and B.J. Ajayi also participated, but had the necessary approval.

USF coach Stan Heath was aware of the players' participation and the players are not expected to be suspended, assistant AD Chris Freet said.

Terrelle Woody coached one of the teams, shortly before he was hired as USF's new video and conditioning assistant. Woody coached Gilchrist, Jones and Verdejo on the same team in the Tampa Bay Pro-Am League. Only two players per school are allowed per team unless approval is obtained from the school's athletic director, which it was not.

On Aug. 17 in Orlando, in the Tampa Bay-Orlando league final, Woody coached Team Impact, which consisted of only five players: Gilchrist, Jones, Verdejo and non-USF students Renaldo Balkman and Jerell Davis.

However, a Tribune photographer witnessed Woody entering the name "Marlon Jackson" in the official scorebook and excluding Verdejo. The photographer and the league's Web site confirmed no one named "Marlon Jackson" played and that Verdejo played in the game, scoring 10 points.

Woody said Thursday he was unaware of the NCAA rules regarding summer league participation. Asked why he intentionally misidentified Verdejo in the scorebook, Woody said: "I don't recall any of that. I've got to go."

Heath did not return calls seeking comment. Last month, Heath told the Tribune he was aware Woody had coached USF's players in the summer league.

"That wasn't anything we set up and organized," Heath said. "It may have happened, but wasn't anything that was planned."

Woody, who does not have a college degree, will make $30,000 in his new job, which includes recording games of foes and making sure the TVs in the coaches offices are connected to DirecTV.

Woody, the personal trainer, adviser and spokesman for Gilchrist, has been aligned with Gilchrist for the past three years. In that time, Gilchrist, the highest-rated recruit in USF history, attended two high schools and signed letters-of-intent with three universities. Woody, 38, also had Gilchrist, 18, serve as his best man in his April wedding.

When Gilchrist enrolled at USF in June for summer school, he was accompanied by Woody. Heath said he paid Woody $1,000 to work his basketball camps and allowed Woody to stay at his house during the summer.

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