Sun-Times Going Hard On UK's Pay-For-Play Recruit

The paper reported rumors, that highly-prized Anthony Davis accepted $200,000 to choose Kentucky. UK's lawyers got involved, and the editors pulled the paragraph...for a day. Now the Sun-Times is fighting back, with more detailed, sourced allegations. This should be fun.

Wednesday, the Sun-Times published a story about Davis choosing Kentucky over Syracuse, DePaul and Ohio State. Buried in the story was this gem:

The rumors/sources that have Davis choosing Kentucky are also alleging that the commitment cost $200,000. Davis Sr. has flat out denied everything.

Kentucky's law firm posted a statement on the school's web site, contending the allegations were false and would lead to a lawsuit if not removed. The paper acquiesced, cutting the offending paragraph, and then taking the story down altogether. ( A cached version is here, without the paragraph.)

Kentucky hoped that would be the end of it, but they seem to have unleashed a Wildcat. Today the Sun-Times fired back with an entire article devoted to the allegations. The most damaging part isn't the repeating of the $200,000 deal, but this: newly reported, newly sourced information that would seem to confirm something untoward was taking place.

Sources from three separate universities told the Sun-Times that Davis Sr. asked for money in return for his son's commitment, with the amounts ranging from $125,000 to $150,000.

What it comes down to now is the paper's sources words against the university's. Who do you believe? A multiple-sourced story, or a university and coach, with separate histories of violations, who stand to suffer if the story is true?

That's not a rhetorical question.

Prep star at center of storm [Chicago Sun-Times]