The NCAA has imposed penalties against the University of Memphis over infractions involving men’s basketball and softball programs. The penalties include fines and forfeiture of certain games.
The university agreed to the punishment assessed by the NCAA. The NCAA says former academic counselor Leslie Brooks paid two softball players to complete coursework and provide test answers to a men’s basketball player.
One softball player was paid $150 for completing three assignments for the basketball player, and the other softball player was paid $400 for providing answers to five tests and four quizzes to Brooks. Another two tests and one quiz were provided directly to the basketball player. The university has declined to identify the players involved.
A 10-year show-cause order was also imposed on Brooks,
meaning she cannot participate in any activities related to athletics if employed by a school that is a member of the NCAA during that time period.
Memphis is also required to forfeit any wins from the 20 games those student-athletes competed in during the period of violations, which took place from January 25 through February 18, 2024.
The men’s basketball team defeated Wichita State, Temple and Tulane that time so those games will now be recorded as losses. The women’s softball team from Memphis did not play any games during that period and, therefore, will not be impacted by the ruling.
“I would like to thank our staff who worked swiftly and collaboratively with the NCAA to take appropriate action and implement corrective measures,” Memphis president Bill Hardgrave said in a prepared statement. “The University of Memphis is committed to a culture of compliance with all NCAA rules and will move our program forward accordingly.”
