Purdue Might Have Violated Rules in Recruiting Erickson

Nicole Erickson, Brea-Olinda’s star guard, could lose at least some eligibility to play women’s basketball at Purdue if an accusation of an alleged NCAA violation by the school, reported by a newspaper Saturday, is true.

The Lafayette (Ind.) Journal and Courier reported that a scout and a recruiting analyst had been contacted as part of an NCAA investigation, “with as many as eight possible rule violations drawing scrutiny.”

The report said the Nov. 19 edition of Gold and Black Illustrated, an independent publication for Purdue fans, featured a cover photo of Erickson, the 1993 Times Orange County player of the year, and fellow recruit Michele Van Gorp of Mount Clemens, Mich., wearing Purdue uniforms.

The photograph was taken during Erickson’s official visit to Purdue on the last weekend in October, before she signed a letter of intent to play for the Boilermakers Nov. 10. Van Gorp also signed with Purdue.

Steve Mallonee, NCAA director of legislative services, refused to comment on any possible investigation of Purdue or answer direct questions concerning the photograph of Erickson. He was willing to comment generally on several points:

--He said it is a violation to publicize the campus visit of any recruit, or to allow pictures of recruits to be taken for any purpose other than use in in-house publications.

The newspaper report did not say how Gold and Black Illustrated obtained the photograph or whether Purdue officials were involved. Calls to Gold and Black Illustrated Saturday were answered by a machine.

--If a school is found to be in violation of rules during recruiting, Mallonee said, the athlete is automatically ineligible pending an NCAA review.

“The Eligibility Committee can restore eligibility immediately, restore it with conditions, or the institution can be told that the student-athlete will not be eligible to compete there,” he said.

She could, however, play elsewhere.

Erickson’s father, Keith, said Saturday he had not heard of the allegations, but knew Nicole and Van Gorp had tried on the uniforms because it was on a videotape taken by her mother, Sandy, on the trip.

“They used some of the jerseys that were there,” Keith Erickson said.

“My guess is that the things they supposedly broke, I wouldn’t think they were that serious. It just amazes me how the NCAA will look at little things like they were real big things.

“I would hate to see it mess up her first year.”

He added: “If they did these things, I don’t think they know the rules that well.”

The newspaper said other allegations against Coach Lin Dunn’s program include improper recruiting, paying extra money to summer camp coaches and arranging improper pickup games.

Dunn denied any wrongdoing, and Athletic Director Morgan Burke said neither the school nor the Big Ten had yet been notified of an investigation.

But Charles Verdan, an Amateur Athletic Union director and scout, and Joe Smith, a New York recruiting analyst, told the newspaper they had been contacted by the NCAA.