Rush Probe Said to Involve Agent

JaRon Rush continues to be part of the UCLA basketball team, watching Friday’s practice just after being suspended and sitting on the bench during Saturday’s loss to Gonzaga, but his future with the program is in doubt while school officials investigate the extent of his connection with an agent.

Sources said Saturday that the unknown agent has approached Bruin players in the past, before their senior seasons, in an apparent attempt to recruit them as clients. The players turned him down.

If Rush has accepted money or hired the agent, his college career will be over. The NCAA regards such acts as the player having turned professional.

The school reported the possible infractions to the Pacific 10 Conference and will send its findings to officials there.

The exact relationship between the sophomore forward and the agent is not known because Rush is not giving interviews and school officials are prohibited by student-privacy laws from discussing details. But the alleged violations are believed to be either connected with or came to light during a trial involving the prominent coach of a club team in Rush’s hometown of Kansas City. Rush recently left the Bruins to testify at the trial.

It is not known if Rush is a focus of any other activities, beyond the UCLA inquiry into his eligibility.

Athletic Director Pete Dalis said he became aware of the issue Thursday. Dalis would not estimate how long the investigation could last, because people outside the school have to be interviewed, but he said the process could take a while. Rush has already been ruled out for next Saturday’s game against DePaul, and he is not allowed to practice.