USF studying Web site report alleging NCAA violations

TAMPA The University of South Florida men's basketball team took the court Thursday night amid a report published by a prominent sports Web site that alleges multiple NCAA violations in recent months.

USF athletic department officials met Thursday afternoon to discuss the allegations aimed at third-year coach Stan Heath's program. Heath, who was in Charleston, S.C., preparing the Bulls for their game against Davidson, did not return a call seeking comment.

USF sports information director Chris Freet said school officials will continue to study the report before making any final conclusions. Freet released the following statement after Thursday's meeting:

"We will carefully review the issues raised in an Internet report. If we discover any issues that warrant action, we will address in an appropriate manner. USF staff and personnel will have no further comment at this time."

The report, posted on AOL's FanHouse.com, says most of the violations involve video and conditioning assistant Terrelle Woody, who was hired in August 2008 to guarantee the signing of Maryland transfer Gus Gilchrist. A 6-foot-10 forward, Gilchrist led the Bulls to wins in their first two games by averaging a team-high 20.5 points and 8.5 rebounds.

NCAA spokesperson Stacey Osburn also issued a statement Thursday night. "The NCAA cannot comment on a current, pending or potential investigation," Osburn said via email.

The story alleges that Woody improperly drove Gilchrist on personal trips - including a trip to Gilchrist's Maryland home after the spring semester ended - and illegally coached and directed offseason practices in an open gym involving USF players.

In the report, Heath denied the allegations or said he had no knowledge of them.

The story cites former USF assistant coach Byron Samuels and a pair of former players, unnamed sources and eyewitness accounts by a "reporter." The report was written by Brett McMurphy, former USF beat writer for The Tampa Tribune.

According to the report, Woody also drove Gilchrist to Orlando Magic basketball games during last season's playoffs. Samuels is quoted in the story, alleging he has knowledge of Woody overseeing open gym workouts in the offseason, which is against NCAA rules.

"I know Byron Samuels very well," said longtime USF booster Dave Goldstein. "I know he is bitter. I think you have to take what he says with a grain of salt. I don't think it has any meat to it."

Perhaps the most serious allegation in the story says three USF players were suspects in the robbery of two former players in April 2009 and that Heath did not report the crime to authorities to protect the current players.

Former player Gaby Belardo reported a burglary of his home at The Edge apartment complex near the USF campus. In the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office report, filed April 26, Belardo said he suspected teammates Dominique Jones, Justin Leemow and Anthony Crater were involved in the theft of several items from his residence, including a laptop computer, a flat screen TV, an XBox video game system, an iPod, jewelry and clothing.

According to the report, Belardo said he told Heath about the incident, and the coach called a team meeting to try to get the items returned. Nowhere in the 23-page police report does it say that Belardo expected Heath to call the police, or that he asked the coach to do so.

"I have talked to several players in-depth, and no one seems to have any information," Heath said in an interview with deputies on May 9. "I also searched the room of each player looking for Gaby's things but we didn't find anything. I truly believe that the team is not involved."

After a two-month investigation that included numerous interviews with the suspects, the victim and potential witnesses, deputies declared the case inactive on June 25. PIO spokeswoman Debbie Carter said Thursday that the case is closed. No charges were filed.

Heath is 23-41 and in his third season at USF. Prior to taking over USF's program, he spent four seasons at Arkansas and one at Kent State.

Goldstein first heard of the allegations when he turned on his computer Thursday morning. A member of the Bulls Club board of directors for 15 years, Goldstein is an avid supporter of Heath and remains behind Heath amid the allegations reported by FanHouse.com.

"I think Stan is really doing a good job with the program," Goldstein said. "He is the best guy for the job at this time. He is miles and miles ahead of the previous coach. I do believe he plays by the rules.

"I'm a big supporter of this program, and if they do something wrong, I'll be the first to call them out on it. I just don't think there's a lot to this story."