Michael Beasley tangled in a court battle with former AAU coach and agent

Anyone that follows college basketball even moderately closely can tell you the key words that you will find in every story that breaks about the recruitment of an elite level high schooler -- agents, runners, AAU coaches, limitless "funding", shoe companies.

We saw it with OJ Mayo and Ronald Guillory. We saw it with Josh Nochimson and Nate Miles. It may be a different sport, but we saw it with Josh Luchs as well.

In theory, we all know how it works. People funded by an agency form relationships with the coaches of top AAU programs and their best players, using a limitless supply of cash and gifts to entice and impress the players, the ultimate goal being the commission the agency makes off of those six-year contracts and million dollar endorsement.

But in practice, very few outside observers have a chance to gain a window into the specifics of the process. And that is what makes this story from the Washington Post so interesting. Michael Beasley is currently locked in a legal battle with his former agent Joel Bell and his old AAU coach Curtis Malone. Bell filed a lawsuit against Beasley claiming that the basketball star illegally fired him prior to signing an endorsement deal with Adidas. Beasley countersued Bell and filed a third-party claim against Malone claiming, among other things, that "Bell bankrolled Malone’s nationally recognized DC Assault summer basketball program and that in return Malone felt obliged to steer Beasley ... to Bell for professional representation."


The money blockquote:

Beasley alleges in the suit that Malone "conspired with Bell to drive Beasley to him as a client" and that Bell "improperly subsidized Malone's DC Assault program, and paid money to Malone 'on the side' or 'under the table,' in exchange for" Malone advising players such as Beasley to sign with Bell.

One of Beasley's first requests of Bell, the suit says, was for the agent to quickly secure Beasley a multimillion dollar endorsement contract. Beasley says in the suit that he wanted a contract with Nike, the long-standing leader in the multibillion dollar shoe and sports apparel industry the past 30 years.

But Beasley's suit claims that Bell "failed to pursue negotiations with Nike based on pecuniary interests that would result from Adidas to [Bell] and Malone."

Beasley's suit also alleges a string of illegal benefits provided to him by Bell and Malone. Beasley's mother, Fatima Smith, received $2,500 for legal bills after she was arrested for driving with a suspended license. When Beasley enrolled at Kansas State, his mother moved with him and not only had her moving expenses paid for, she had her rent taken care of. She also had her car payments paid for. There's more, and I strongly encourage you to read the article from Steve Yanda and Eric Prisbell.

But frankly, none of this should surprise you. And, for our intents and purposes as college hoops fans, its virtually irrelevant. Kansas State probably won't be getting into trouble for this. If they do, then we'll see that 2007-2008 season go out the window. Whoop-dee-do. Dalonte Hill -- another former AAU coach with the DC Assault that was quoted in the Washington Post's piece -- may end up in some trouble at Maryland, but its unclear just how much. The report may end up affecting the pipeline he had coming out of DC more than anything.

What we get here is a peak behind the scenes, a open-door look into exactly what the typical relationship is between these elite players and the agents/runners/AAU coaches/shoe companies they are associated with. And, as you might expect, the reason we get that view is a fight over money. Bell invested his money with Malone and believed it was his time to profit off of the (business) relationship he had cultivated with Beasley. The player had other ideas. Bell filed a lawsuit because he was pissed he didn't get paid. Beasley fired back because he doesn't want to pay.

And here we are. Throw in Dave Telep's piece from Tuesday titled the Guide to Dirty Recruiting, and we may never get a clearer picture of just how the finances and the politics of grassroots basketball works.
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Top 15 Freshmen

After watching John Wall on Wednesday night in the Garden, its safe to say that John Wall is far and away the best freshman this season, if not the best player in the country. But there have been some great freshmen over the years, so the next logical step is to ask who were the best freshmen of all time.

Honorable Mention: Shareef Abdur-Raheem, Johnny Dawkins, Penny Hardaway, Allan Houston, Larry Hughes, Bobby Hurley, Allen Iverson, Kevin Love, Stephon Marbury, Alonzo Mourning, Troy Murphy, Lamar Odom, Derrick Rose, Dwayne Washington, the Fab Five


15. Pervis Ellison, Louisville - 13.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.2 bpg

Ellison is on this list not because of his overall performance as a freshman, but a result of his incredible NCAA Tournament. He averaged 18 and 12 as the Cardinal beat LSU and Duke to win the 1986 title. He won the tournament MOP, and picked up the nickname "Never Nervous Pervis".




14. Shaquille O'Neal, LSU - 13.9 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 3.5 bpg

Shaq wasn't the force he would eventually turn into as a pro, but a large part of that was a result of sharing the court with Chris Jackson and Stanley Roberts. While the footwork and skill level wasn't there yet, the overpowering physical presence and athleticism was. He was the first freshman to ever post two triple-doubles.


13. Patrick Ewing, Georgetown - 12.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.2 bpg

Ewing's numbers look paltry in comparison to the rest of the players on this list, but from the second he stepped on the Hoya's campus, he was the centerpiece for John Thompson's aggressive defense. Ewing would lead the Hoyas to the 1982 title game, becoming the standard with which all defensive centers are now compared.




12. Michael Beasley, Kansas State - 26.2 ppg, 12.4 rpg

All Michael Beasley did at Kansas State was produce. He led the nation with 28 double-doubles, three 40 points games, 13 30-10 games, and 22 20-10 games; he set the Big XII single-game scoring record with 44 points in a loss to Baylor; his per game averages of 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds were Big XII records; he helped K-State beat Kansas in Manhattan since 1983; overall, he set 30 K-State and 17 Big XII single-season and career records.


11. Mark Aguirre, DePaul - 24.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg

Aguirre was a prolific scorer in his college basketball career, leading the Blue Demons to an upset win against UCLA as DePaul reached the 1979 Final Four, where they would lose to Larry Bird's Indiana State team.




10. Kenny Anderson, Georgia Tech - 20.6 ppg, 8.1 apg

Teaming with Dennis Scott and Brian Oliver to form "Lethal Weapon 3", Anderson was the spark plug for a Yellow Jacket team that made it to the Final Four. One of a long line of NYC "point gods", Anderson hit one of the controversial shot to force overtime in the Sweet 16 against Michigan State.




9. Kevin Durant, Texas - 25.1 ppg, 11.4 rpg

Despite being built like a pipe cleaner, Kevin Durant dominated a physical Big XII conference to the tune of 28.9 ppg and 12.5 rpg in league player. Twenty times, Durant eclipsed the 30 point mark as a freshman as he was named national player of the year.


8. Tyler Hansbrough, UNC - 18.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg

Hansbrough kicked off one of the most debated careers in college hoops history with an all-american season as a freshman in 2006. He carried a Tar Heel team that was devastated by the loss of their stars after the Heels' 2005 NCAA title with a combination of skill and effort.


7. Bernard King, Tennessee - 26.4 ppg, 12.3 rpg

Teaming with TNT's own Ernie Grunfeld to form the "Ernie and Bernie Show", King dominated the SEC, winning the player of the year award as a freshman while being named an all-american.




6. Magic Johnson, Michigan State - 17.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 7.4 apg

Magic Johnson almost didn't go to Michigan State, opting for the Spartans over the Wolverines because Jud Heathcote would allow him to play the point. Good decision by Heathcote, as Sparty won the Big Ten title and reached the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament riding their 6'9" point guard.


5. Ralph Sampson, Virginia - 14.9 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 4.6 bpg

Sampson, despite not being named to the first or second all-ACC team, was named first team all-america as he led the conference in rebounding and blocked shots as UVA won the 1980 NIT title. At 7'4", Sampson was one of the most intimidating interior presences in college basketball history.




4. Wayman Tisdale, Oklahoma - 24.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 2.5 bpg

Tisdale was Blake Griffin before there was a Blake Griffin. As a freshman, Tisdale was named Big Eight Conference player of the year and was named a first team all-american, the first freshman to do so after they were allowed to play again (the '71-'72 season).




3. Fly Williams, Austin Peay - 29.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg

There have been few talents like Fly Williams in the history of college hoops, who twice scored 51 in a game as a freshman. His 854 points as a freshman was a record, only topped by LSU's Chris Jackson who had the benefit of a three point line. Williams was the biggest reason that Austin Peay reached their first ever NCAA Tournament in 1973.


2. Chris Jackson, LSU - 30.2 ppg, 4.1 apg

Hands down, Jackson (who changed his name to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf) was one of the best scorers college basketball has ever seen. Lightening quick with a deadly cross over and range for days, Jackson would lead LSU to the NCAA Tournament while setting the record for points scored by a freshman, a record which still stands. He was the first freshman named SEC Player of the Year.


1. Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse - 22.2 ppg, 10.0 rpg

This was, in reality, a pretty easy choice. Anthony was the centerpiece offensively for a Syracuse team that won the national title. He was named second team all-america and first team all-Big East as well as being named the 2003 NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.


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The BIAH Advent Calendar: Day 6

Yup, it is December. And as the temperatures outside drop, the heat is rising on college campuses across the country as basketball season kicks into full swing. But December is also a time to reflect on the past year. This December is special, because as we draw closer to the new year, we get closer to the end of the aughts. In the spirit of the holidays, we are going to celebrate the decade past by counting down the top 25 games, players, and teams of the last 10 years with the BIAH advent calender. Each day, we will be unveiling the next on each of our lists, culminating with our gift to you on Christmas Day: the best game, the best player, and the best team of the 2000's.

Here is No. 20:


2009: Pitt vs. Villanova: In a year where the Big East was considered the best conference in college basketball, and maybe even the strongest conference ever, it was only fitting that two Big East teams would play the best game of the 2009 Tournament for the right to go to the Final Four. Villanova would jump out to leas of 10-3 and 22-12, but Pitt would make a run, capped by a Levance Fields step back three to tie the game at 30 with a 1:50 left in the first half. Sam Young hit two free throws at the end of the half, and Pitt went into the break up 34-32.

But the excitement was far from over, as a back and forth second half was capped by a final six minutes that saw six lead changes. Pitt was up 67-63 with three minutes left, but an and-1 bucket from Dwayne Anderson followed by a lay-up off of a steal by Corey Fisher gave Villanova the lead back. After two Levance Fields free throws put Pitt ahead, Anderson would bury a three and Corey Fisher would make two free throws to give Nova a 73-69 lead with 47 seconds left. Three Villanova free throws, and a three and a lay-up from Sam Young and DeJuan Blair, respectively, made it 76-74 with 10 seconds left, setting the stage for a dramatic finish:




Michael Beasley, Kansas State: I'll be honest, I had a tough time figuring out where to rank the one-and-done guys on this list. On the one hand, Beasley had one easily one of the best individual seasons of the decade, averaging 26.2 ppg and 12.4 rpg in the Big XII. But his collegiate career consisted of a season, singular.

Beasley was loved in his one season in Manhattan.
(photo credit: Rush the Court)

His one season was just too impressive to pass up. Let me take you through some of the records: He led the nation with 28 double-doubles, three 40 points games, 13 30-10 games, and 22 20-10 games; he set the Big XII single-game scoring record with 44 points in a loss to Baylor; his per game averages of 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds were Big XII records; he helped K-State beat Kansas in Manhattan since 1983; overall, he set 30 K-State and 17 Big XII single-season and career records.

And he wasn't one of the top 25 players of the decade?


2004 Duke Blue Devils: The 2004 version of the Blue Devils was probably the best of the "JJ Redick era". No matter how you slice it, this team was loaded. JJ Redick, Luol Deng, Shelden Williams, Chris Duhon, Daniel Ewing, Sean Dockery, Shavlik Randolph. It was no coincidence that this team won 31 games, brought home another ACC regular season title, and reached the Final Four.

Whether you hate Duke or love Duke, you cannot argue with facts in this case. If this team hadn't blown a late eight point lead to UConn in the national semifinals and had gone on the win the national title, this group would be in this discussion as one of the best Blue Devil teams of Coach K's career.


No. 21: Duke vs. Maryland in the 2001 ACC Semis, Josh Howard, Arizona's 2001 team
No. 22: Marquette v. Kentucky, Tayshaun Prince, UConn's 2009 team
No. 23: Vermont v. Syracuse, Andrew Bogut, and Memphis's 2008 team.
No. 24: UConn v. Miami, Luke Harangody, and Kansas's 2003 team
No. 25: Drake v. Western Kentucky, Wayne Simien, and Louisville's 2009 team.
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