NCAA Holds Inquiry Into Mills’ Case

The University of Kentucky was notified Thursday in a letter that it is being investigated by the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. for possible violations in the recruitment of Fairfax High School basketball player Chris Mills.

“The NCAA enforcement staff is undertaking a preliminary inquiry to determine whether adequate evidence exists to warrant an official inquiry,” said David Berst, NCAA enforcement director, who sent the letter to university president David Roselle.

Berst said that Chuck Smrt of the NCAA and Joe Burch, the university’s deputy legal counsel, recently conducted several interviews.

The investigation centers on an allegation that $1,000 in cash was found when an overnight mail envelope addressed to Claud Mills, father of the Kentucky recruit, popped open at a Los Angeles sorting center. The sender was listed as Dwane Casey, a Kentucky assistant coach. Casey and Claud Mills have denied the allegations.

The NCAA’s letter will allow the school time to respond to allegations. The case will eventually be presented to the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions, which decides if sanctions should be administered.