St. John’s: St. John’s Placed on Probation

St. John’s Placed on Probation: St. John’s has been placed on two years probation and will lose one scholarship next season for making improper payments to a former player. The NCAA’s infractions committee accepted all of the school’s self-imposed penalties, which included banning post-season play in 2004-05, reducing one scholarship the past two seasons, vacating all wins in which former player Abe Keita participated and returning 90 percent of the money it received from the Big East for participating in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. Keita said he was given $300 each month by a member of the basketball staff, and an investigation by the school found evidence to support the claim, violating the NCAA’s extra benefit rules. The school said the violations involved only one player and that the inquiry involved no current players, coaches or other athletic staff. The school said it believes the funds were provided with a humanitarian intent, but the payments still were judged to be inappropriate and unacceptable. [6/20/06]