ACC report | NCAA Tournament Report

SportsLine.com Report
July 13, 2000

Maggette admits taking payment

Former Duke player Corey Maggette, now playing for the Los Angeles Clippers, admitted he took cash payments from summer league coach Myron Piggie while he was still a high school student.

The sworn statement, which was first reported by SportsLine.com's Dennis Dodd, was sent to the U.S. Attorney in Kansas City and the NCAA. As a result of this infraction, the Blue Devils could be forced to forfeit their runner-up finish in the 1999 NCAA Tournament for using an ineligible player.

Maggette previously denied accepting money from Piggie, but his June 11 statement "raises substantial questions about his eligibility to play for the Blue Devils during the 1998-99 season," Duke executive vice president Tallman Trask III said in a statement.

"Clearly this is not what we wanted to hear, but we are pleased at least we have the facts now," Duke spokesman Al Rossiter Jr. said.

Maggette only played one season at Duke, leaving after his freshman year for the riches of the NBA. He was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round of the 1999 draft before being dealt to the Orlando Magic. He averaged 8.4 points in 77 games as a rookie. Maggette was part of a draft day deal last month that sent him to the Clippers in a cap-clearing move by the Magic.

Duke had requested the statement to resolve questions about Maggette's eligibility after allegations surfaced that he accepted $2,000 from Piggie. Piggie currently faces charges of paying five high school players on his Kansas City AAU team $35,000 from 1996-98.

Duke is pleading ignorant to knowledge of any misdeeds by Maggette. But the admission casts the Blue Devils in a bad light, and might force them to cough up more than $220,000 in tournament revenue.

"Clearly we weren't aware of it," Rossiter said. "The issue is was this in fact a violation of NCAA rules and what do they do about it?"

A glance at 2001

Sure, the loss of Chris Carrawell will be big, but Duke returns everyone else. It's hard to believe that the Blue Devils won't still be the favorites to win the ACC.

Who'll be back

Most importantly for Duke is that it doesn't appear that there will be a repeat of last season's exodus. Battier has already said he's coming back for his senior season and Williams hasn't indicated that he's leaving. With four seniors returning and the potential for improvement in players such as Casey Sanders, Christensen and Horvath, Duke should be just fine.

The Blue Devils have an added bonus in 6-5 guard Dahntay Jones, who transferred from Rutgers after the season. Jones averaged 16 points in his sophomore season at Rutgers.

Who's gone

Carrawell will be difficult to replace both for his play and for his leadership. Fortunately for Duke, Battier is set to return.

Key newcomers

With as many youngsters as this Duke team has, the Blue Devils coaching staff hasn't had to do a lot of recruiting this season. Still one player signed early and another has committed and is expected to sign in the spring.

• G Chris Duhon (6-2, Fr.): Duhon is considered to be one of the top handful of point guards in this senior class. The Louisiana native is considered a good passer and can shoot well enough to play some minutes at shooting guard.
• F Andre Sweet (Fr.): Sweet wasn't heavily recruited until after Duke coaches saw him lead his Rice High School team in New York City past Duhon's team in a holiday tournament in Raleigh. That combined with the lack of depth of this Duke team contributed to the offer. Sweet likely will never be a star, but will play.Z
• G Dahntay Jones (6-5, 210, Jr.): The Rutgers transfer will be eligible for the 2001-02 season.