Gary Parrish is reporting tonight that Bruce Pearl hosted Aaron Craft and Josh Selby in his home during the Fall of 2008, which violates a rule stating that high school juniors are not allowed to have off-campus contact with college coaches. Both Craft and Selby committed to Tennessee, and both Craft and Selby eventually signed elsewhere (Ohio State and Kansas, respectively).
Parrish goes on to report that Pearl lied to NCAA assistant director of enforcement Kristen Matha when asked about the in-home event. Parrish's sources say the NCAA already had photographic evidence of Pearl and Craft inside his home at the time, which, if true, means Pearl was busted right away and not found out later.
These allegations fall in line with the "inappropriate contact" theme we've heard for the last several days, and this certainly sheds some light on the timetable in terms of Pearl's truthfulness with the NCAA.
For Pearl, it comes as a blessing that these allegations came to light during the biggest home stretch of Tennessee's football schedule. The focus on campus is, as always, dominated by football, especially with Oregon and Florida in town. This basketball situation will drag on for several months in all likelihood before word of any additional punishments from the NCAA comes down.
The situation is obviously serious...but exactly how serious is it to you, the Tennessee fan?