But if Herb Pope goes to Memphis or wherever Bob Huggins coaches next there should be some investigations.
An interesting article from Greg Doyel at Sportsline about Eddie Lau, a recruiter for a NYC AAU team, who also just happens to have been advising one of the top players Derrick Caracter who recently committed to Louisville.
For years Lau has been a covert operative, working as a recruiter for AAU-type programs like the Long Island Panthers, but in recent weeks he blew his cover by serving as Caracter’s “adviser,” telling CBS SportsLine.com, “he’s like my godson.”
On the surface, Lau’s advisory role to Caracter means little. But what you see isn’t necessarily what you get when it comes to Eddie Lau, or those like him.
Lau is more than an adviser, more than an AAU recruiter. He works for powerful NBA agent Dan Fegan, whose client list includes Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson and Erick Dampier. For Fegan and Associates, Lau is a consultant — servicing current clients and trying to rustle up new ones from the New York City area.
And the best amateur player in the New York City area is … Derrick Caracter.
That connection ought to curdle the Louisville compliance department’s milk — and pique the interest of the NCAA, which has investigated Fegan before. Two years ago, Fegan’s relationship with Charlie Villanueva cost Villanueva the first six games of Connecticut’s 2003-04 season. Villanueva’s AAU team? The Long Island Panthers. Villanueva’s connection to Fegan? Eddie Lau, according to multiple sources in New York City.
So this led me to wonder about the AAU Coach of the Pittsburgh J.O.T.S. — J.O. Stright. Could there be the similar hanky-panky?
It is not the same situation, but there are flags.
J.O. Stright is also a successful businessman who lives in Mt. Washington and owns an Etna insurance business. Stright may have gained most of his notoriety for becoming the legal guardian for a young high school star in the Pittsburgh area in the ’90s — Danny Fortson. By remarkable coincidence, Stright is a close friend of Coaches Bob Huggins and John Calipari — as this disturbing anectode reveals.
Summer 1991. AAU tournament in Memphis. Stright, a Pittsburgh businessman, is coaching a team that includes 15-year-old stars Danny Fortson and Tino Hunter. Huggins attends the tournament. He likes Fortson, a tough kid who fits UC’s physical style. Calipari, then coach at Massachusetts, attends the tournament. He likes Hunter, a great athlete who fits the Minutemen’s athletic style.
Stright, who had taken to looking after both inner-city kids, becoming Fortson’s legal guardian, remembers he, Calipari and Huggins went out for a beer to discuss Fortson and Hunter.
Stright vividly remembers the three reaching an agreement that night.
Calipari: “Look, Bob loves this guy Danny, and I love Tino.”
Stright: “I’ll do everything in my power to get these guys to sign with you guys.”
Huggins: “Fine with me.”
They shook hands and had beers to celebrate the recruiting coup. …
Wow. And this is/was apparently kosher?
Stright, by the way is also a very generous donor to Pitt educational funds. He gets mentioned in the local society/gossip pages.
Danny Fortson, Stright and another have engaged in real estate/business ventures in the area.
Now what this means with Herb Pope, I am not sure. It does bear watching and maybe Stright’s relationship with Pope needs further scrutiny.
