NBA's Maggette Accepted Money from Coach

D U R H A M, N.C., July 12 -- — Duke’s second-place finish in the 1999 NCAAtournament is in doubt after former player Corey Maggette admittedhe took cash payments from a summer league coach while in highschool.

Maggette signed a sworn statement reversing earlier denials andadmitting he took $2,000 from Myron Piggie, his summer league coachfor a Kansas City-based AAU team, Duke said Tuesday.

Piggie pleaded guilty in May to a conspiracy charge after beingaccused of defrauding Duke and three other colleges. He faces 3-5years in prison for paying Maggette and four other high schoolplayers on his team $35,500 from 1996-98.

Duke: We Were Unaware

Duke officials have said they were not aware of the payments,but the admission jeopardizes the Blue Devils’ program. In additionto possibly forfeiting the runner-up finish for using an ineligibleplayer in the 1999 NCAA tournament, Duke also might have to returnup to $226,815 in tournament revenue.

An NCAA spokeswoman said officials planned to review Maggette’sstatement today.

Precedent for situations in which an ineligible athlete playedin a postseason game and the university was unaware of theviolations calls for the school to return 45 percent of its gamerevenue and give up any title it won, spokeswoman Jane Jankowskisaid.

Duke requested the statement to resolve questions aboutMaggette’s eligibility after claims surfaced that he accepted themoney from Piggie.

“Clearly, this is not what we wanted to hear, but we arepleased at least we have the facts now,” Duke spokesman AlRossiter Jr. said.

NCAA to Investigate

The next step for the NCAA is to see if rules were violated, notif Duke tried to cover up the payments, he said.

“Clearly, we weren’t aware of it,” Rossiter said. “The issue is, was this in fact a violation of NCAA rules, and what do they doabout it.”

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was told of the statement but had nocomment. He has also denied knowledge of the payments.