Cruel recruiting joke that crosses the line of being criminal

**The Scribe** · Feb 5, 08, 08:43 AM

When offensive lineman Kevin Hart of Fernley, Nev., announced his commitment to California last Friday, he did so in front of a packed school gymnasium. Two local TV stations showed up to film the event as he prepared to become the first Fernley athlete to receive a full scholarship to a Division I school directly out of high school.

"They really sold me," Hart said. "Coach [Jeff] Tedford and I talked a lot, and the fact that the head coach did most of the recruiting of me kind of gave me the real personal experience.”

But it appears that Hart was the victim of a prank. Somebody, it appears, has been impersonating Tedford. There never was a scholarship offer — let alone any official contact — from the Golden Bears.

LINK

**rockcastleraiders** · Feb 5, 08, 08:45 AM

Very cruel and downright disgusting.

**LRCW** · Feb 5, 08, 08:48 AM

What a story. I hope the young man can meet the person responsible for this face to face, and work it out that way. :fight:

**pnthr4life** · Feb 5, 08, 08:53 AM

Wow. I'm curious to see if the other schools listed were actually recruiting him as well. If he was duped, as they suspect, I really feel for this young man.

**The Scribe** · Feb 5, 08, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by pnthr4life

Wow. I'm curious to see if the other schools listed were actually recruiting him as well. If he was duped, as they suspect, I really feel for this young man.

Oregon was another so-called finalist for Hart, and somebody appears to have been impersonating an Oregon representative as well. An official from Oregon confirmed Hart was not being recruited. The validity of Hart's other finalists — Nevada, Illinois and Oklahoma State — remain in question

LINK

**rockcastleraiders** · Feb 5, 08, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by The Scribe

Oregon was another so-called finalist for Hart, and somebody appears to have been impersonating an Oregon representative as well. An official from Oregon confirmed Hart was not being recruited. The validity of Hart's other finalists — Nevada, Illinois and Oklahoma State — remain in question

LINK

Very cold. Is the guy capable of getting a scholarship ANYWHERE. Is this a case in which the guy was a waterboy/manager or was he REALLY good as a player? I don't mean that to sound cold but is the Oregon scholarship thing something that ACTUALLY could be realistic for the kid.

**stickymitts** · Feb 5, 08, 09:26 AM

The cruel part isn't the joke, it's when the NCAA makes him sit out a year if he does try to play somewhere else...

Seriously, one of the cruelest things ever...

**pnthr4life** · Feb 5, 08, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by The Scribe

Oregon was another so-called finalist for Hart, and somebody appears to have been impersonating an Oregon representative as well. An official from Oregon confirmed Hart was not being recruited. The validity of Hart's other finalists — Nevada, Illinois and Oklahoma State — remain in question

LINK

I knew about Oregon. I was referring to the other 3 listed in the article. I'd like to hear what they have to say about it.

**pigman** · Feb 5, 08, 10:04 AM

It's cruel, but like has already been said what's up with his high school coach. Heck EJ had at least three of the UK coaches make in school visits during his recruitment. Seems strange no one ever saw this guy in person.

**HT721** · Feb 5, 08, 10:14 AM

thats so sad.....

**hardball** · Feb 5, 08, 10:38 AM

"Dude..."

**RockPride** · Feb 5, 08, 10:42 AM

6'5" 290....looked solid in the photo.....offer him up Coach K, it's just one scholly, and it could be very worth it, in the long run.

**00Rocket28** · Feb 5, 08, 10:53 AM

He definately looks the part, thats for sure, I'm sure some school will come in and offer this kid, based off this story alone

**JBCousins** · Feb 5, 08, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by RockPride

6'5" 290....looked solid in the photo.....offer him up Coach K, it's just one scholly, and it could be very worth it, in the long run.

Agree. That would be a great move by Tedford, too.

**JBCousins** · Feb 5, 08, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by pigman

It's cruel, but like has already been said what's up with his high school coach. Heck EJ had at least three of the UK coaches make in school visits during his recruitment. Seems strange no one ever saw this guy in person.

I was thinking the same thing. How could you get that far in the recruiting process and never visit the campus, never meet someone face to face, or never email the head coach or call his number at the campus to realize he was not a recruit? Very odd.

**threetimelover** · Feb 5, 08, 11:09 AM

It does not pass the smell test, IMO. What about the supposed visit last weekend to Oklahoma State? Did he or didn't he? Did they ever see any coach in person? Come on, red flags are waving all over the place.

**00Rocket28** · Feb 5, 08, 11:12 AM

Yea something is very odd here, how do you have all these "offers" and never once call the coach or go on a visit to Cal or Oregon? Something is rotten in Demark

**cshs81** · Feb 5, 08, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by JBCousins

I was thinking the same thing. How could you get that far in the recruiting process and never visit the campus, never meet someone face to face, or never email the head coach or call his number at the campus to realize he was not a recruit? Very odd.

Originally Posted by threetimelover

It does not pass the smell test, IMO. What about the supposed visit last weekend to Oklahoma State? Did he or didn't he? Did they ever see any coach in person? Come on, red flags are waving all over the place.

Originally Posted by 00Rocket28

Yea something is very odd here, how do you have all these "offers" and never once call the coach or go on a visit to Cal or Oregon? Something is rotten in Demark

I'm with all of you.

He had offers but never went on a visit? No coach ever showed up at his house?

Did his high school coach not think this was unusual?

I'll be curious to see how this plays out and what the truth is. I don't think we're getting the truth.

**cshs81** · Feb 5, 08, 01:03 PM

I read some other stories about this. THis is not the head coach's first go-round with recruiting. He has been on college staffs and has placed other kids at D1 schools.

What exactly would someone be charged with? Why is there a criminal invesstigation?

**LRCW** · Feb 5, 08, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by cshs81

I read some other stories about this. THis is not the head coach's first go-round with recruiting. He has been on college staffs and has placed other kids at D1 schools.

What exactly would someone be charged with? Why is there a criminal invesstigation?

Well if e-mails were exchanged I would think a person could be charged with internet fraud, which generally involves deliberately deceiving the victim with the promise of goods, services, or other benefits that are nonexistent