Memphis reportedly faced four NCAA Level I and two NCAA Level II violations as a result of an 18-month investigation into the Tigers men’s basketball program.
The Daily Memphian received a notice of allegations and an amended notice of allegations during an investigation through an independent accountability decision-making process. The violation case involving former Memphis center James Wiseman was the first case accepted by the IARP in the spring of 2020.
Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway is the only person named in the allegation notice, according to the report. It states that Hardaway was involved in at least one of the Level I violations and two of the Level II violations. The NCAA claims that Hardaway “failed to demonstrate that he contributed to a submissive atmosphere in the men’s basketball program.”
The Memphis Commercial Court of Appeals, which also received the documents, said the investigation went beyond Wiseman.
Wiseman, the No. 1 rookie who committed to play for Hardaway and Memphis in the 2019–20 season, was suspended 12 games in November 2019 for two infractions: his mother accepted $11,500 from Hardaway in the summer of 2017 and Wiseman played in three games . while not eligible.
Memphis appealed the decision, but the Division I Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee upheld the decision.
The Daily Memphian received Memphis’ response to the allegations, which included the following statement:
“The case presents alleged violations involving the University of Memphis (redacted) that are inflated and combined with no violations, allegations in relation to a particular sport (football) for which no charge has been filed, information reported by UM itself, and events related to the pandemic, over which the parties had no control,” the statement said. “The facts do not demonstrate a lack of institutional control, a failure to control, a failure to cooperate, or a lack of (redacted) accountability.”
Memphis said Wiseman had no knowledge of the payment that was used to cover relocation expenses when the Wiseman family moved from Nashville to Memphis. At the time of the alleged payment, Hardaway was the head coach of East Memphis High School and ran the grassroots Team Penny program. Since he donated $1 million to Memphis in 2008 to help build the Sports Hall of Fame, Hardaway was considered a supporter.
Wiseman played in three games before being declared ineligible by Memphis, but he ultimately left after a month to prepare for the NBA draft.