South Florida's Anthony Crater suspended as the NCAA begins their investigation in the program

There are going to be a lot of questions thrown at Stan Heath in the coming weeks as a result of the investigation into alleged violations at South Florida under his watch.

More on the investigation in a second.

The bigger issue may be the kind of players Heath has been bringing into the program.

Let's start with Anthony Crater. Crater, a native of Flint, MI, has had issues since he enrolled at Ohio State last season. Just ten games into his freshman season, Crater left the Buckeyes in large part because he wasn't being used in the role he felt he deserved (read: he wasn't starting). Crater also failed a drug test at Ohio State, according to a Big Ten source, which may or may not have played a role in his playing time or decision to transfer.

Just a month after transferring to USF, Crater found himself in more trouble, as he was arrested, along with teammate Mike Mercer, for possession of marijuana. Then in April, Crater - along with teammates Dominique Jones and Justin Leemow - was a primary suspect in the theft of $8,000 worth of items from former teammates Jesus Verdejo and Gary Belardo. Crater was never charged, but he did admit during interrogation of a prior theft where he "took [Belardo's] necklace and watch" because he thought "it was Jesus [Verdejo's] stuff."

And now news has leaked that Crater has failed his third drug test in a little over a year, his second since coming to South Florida. Crater is not eligible to play until Dec. 13th, and at that point he will be suspended for another four or six games, depending on how the athletic department interprets the school's hand book.

Mike Mercer, who was arrested along with Crater for possession, has also had a checkered basketball career. He was suspended for academics at Georgia before ultimately being kicked off the team for violating team rules. The January arrest for possession was his second arrest at USF, which resulted in Stan Heath kicking him off the team.

Heath reinstated Mercer in August after he graduated.

And then there is Gus Gilchrist. Gilchrist originally signed with Virginia Tech, but reneged after the shootings that happened there in 2007. He then committed to Maryland, but due to ACC transfer rules, he would have only have 2 1/2 years of eligibility left, as opposed to the four years he gets at USF.

So Gilchrist signed with South Florida and became eligible last December. But the only wat Gilchrist would sign is if Stan Heath hired Terrelle Woody as a strength coach.

Heath did, and it looks like it may bite him is the ass.

Like I said, the NCAA has begun their investigation into the allegations against USF, among which were providing transportation to student athletes, sitting in on open gyms, and illegal work outs with players.

All of it was Woody.

Allegedly.

But like I said, the issue in my mind isn't the accusations against USF; it is who Stan Heath has playing for him. Look, I'm all for second and third and even fourth chances if the situation merits it. I think it is great what Heath did for Mercer. He used basketball - the threat of no longer having it - to motivate Mercer to clean up his act, get his degree, and with any luck turn his life around.

I'll say the same about Crater if Heath can get him focused.

But at some point, you have to look at your roster and ask what price you're willing to pay for success. As Kevin Broadus taught us all, building a program on the foundation of basketball vagabonds with checkered pasts is a risky maneuver.

Heath will win some games this season. He has proven that already.

But is it worth risking his job, and possibly a career?