The University of Memphis is embroiled in a new scandal with its men's basketball program, following the acknowledgment of an anonymous letter that laid out a series of potential NCAA violations. According the university statement to The Commercial Appeal, "The University of Memphis is aware of the anonymous letter and it has been turned over to the NCAA." This information emerged concurrently with the program's announcement of the firing of four coaching staff members.
Specific allegations in the letter include substantial payments to former players and arrangements for housing, as reported by Bluff City Media, suggesting a $30,000 payment to DeAndre Williams for his commitment in 2020, and a $60,000 payment along with an apartment for Emmanuel Akot in 2022. It is not immediately clear if the dismissals of assistant coaches Rick Stansbury, Faragi Phillips, Jamie Rosser, and special advisor Demetrius Dyson are directly linked to these allegations.
Academic fraud charges were also a part of the letter's accusations, focusing particularly on former Tiger Malcolm Dandridge's eligibility during the 2023-24 season. "The letter claims that she and her sister were paid to complete academic work for Dandridge and three other players," as Bluff City Media detailed. The report stated that the University acted upon these findings, with the NCAA visiting the Memphis campus in May for further investigation.
The Memphis men's basketball program is not unfamiliar with NCAA scrutiny. It suffered a recent history of infractions, as in 2022, the team was charged with various violations including four Level II and five Level III violations, reported by FOX13 Memphis. And, in a separate incident for which the school received an additional probation year, Penny Hardaway was handed a three-game suspension in the 2023-24 season for impermissible in-home visits in 2021.
The shakeup within the Tigers' program has been significant, extending beyond coaching staff to other positions and accompanied by a roster turnover that has only retained a single scholarship player from the previous season. This turbulence comes just six weeks after Ed Scott began his tenure as athletic director, as noted by Bluff City Media. As the NCAA's investigation unfolds, the University of Memphis and those watching are bracing for the ruling and any potential repercussions for the basketball program.
