NCAA: Call to Mo'ne Davis a violation

ByABC News
September 4, 2014, 7:58 PM

— -- STORRS, Conn. -- The NCAA has determined that Connecticut women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma committed a secondary rules violation when he made a phone call congratulating Little League pitching star Mo'ne Davis last month.

Athletic director Warde Manuel said Thursday that UConn accepts the decision but does not agree with it.

Manuel says before Auriemma called Davis during the Little League World Series, he checked with UConn's compliance department and was told the call was permissible. The department thought the 13-year-old wouldn't be considered a prospective student-athlete by the NCAA and the school says the call was not "recruiting in nature."

T he NCAA defines a prospective student-athlete as "a student who has started classes for the ninth grade."

The school says it's not sure whether the NCAA will impose any sanctions.

UConn began looking into the issue after a school filed a complaint with the American Athletic Conference. Conference spokeswoman Chevonne Mansfield says the complaint did not come from an AAC member.

Davis helped lead Philadelphia to the American semifinals in Williamsport, and she gained national attention for her pitching and poise.

"I have no idea if the kid is very good, kind of good, not good at all or a superstar or can even reach the basket," Auriemma told the Hartford Courant. "How is that a violation?"

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.