Agent Denies Role in Rush Case

Two developments emerged Monday in the case of suspended UCLA basketball player JaRon Rush:

* Jerome Stanley was identified as the agent possibly linked to Rush and became a central figure in the controversy threatening to end Rush’s college career.

* Rush’s suspension may last at least until Pacific 10 Conference play begins Jan. 6.

Stanley, a Los Angeles agent who represents Keyshawn Johnson of the New York Jets and NBA players Brian Shaw and Dale Ellis, among others, denied any involvement. But three people close to the situation told The Times that a UCLA investigation is looking into his alleged relationship with Rush and whether it violated NCAA rules.

“I don’t have any light to shed on it,” Stanley said. “I don’t know anything about it. . . . I chat with guys all over town. I watch them play basketball all summer. And you talk to them.”

Told that three sources said he was the agent in question, Stanley said: “I don’t know what to say. I haven’t done anything [against the rules] with JaRon Rush. Nothing.”

Rush has been suspended indefinitely by UCLA and his future is in doubt as a university inquiry focuses on whether he cost himself amateur status on two fronts. One deals with his alleged ties to Stanley and the other to his former summer-league coach in Kansas City, Mo., Myron Piggie.

The issues are separate but related: Did Rush break NCAA rules by accepting gifts from Piggie, beyond the allowable expenses, as Rush traveled with a star-filled summer-league team, or by entering into a financial or verbal agreement with Stanley for future NBA representation?

The potential penalties range from the severe--having his collegiate eligibility terminated--to the repairable. Running back Shawn Walters, for example, was dismissed from USC’s football team by the NCAA in 1995 for accepting nearly $16,000 from an agent. But the Trojans appealed the suspension and Walters was reinstated.

Rush is likewise hoping he will be cleared. What became apparent as the investigation continued was that if Rush returns to the team, it won’t be any time soon.

UCLA officials have avoided putting a timeline on the proceedings, conscious that it depends partly on the availability of people outside the school and that it comes at a busy time of the year. Athletic Director Pete Dalis would only say that the suspension would cost Rush at least two games, last Saturday against Gonzaga and Saturday against DePaul.

But it became apparent Monday that the process could go until January, long enough to cost Rush at least eight games, before conference play begins Jan. 6 at Washington. That major benchmark is part of what should be a difficult five-game stretch for the Bruins, with four consecutive road games, including USC and North Carolina, and one at home against Arizona.

Rush was suspended Friday, a day after a federal prosecutor and other authorities from Kansas City met with Dalis in his office, providing information about alleged improprieties. UCLA officials were told the week before, by telephone, about potential issues involving Rush.

Last month, Rush returned to Kansas City for a court proceeding, presumably investigating Piggie. Calls made to a Kansas City listing for Piggie were not returned, but Monday he told the Kansas City Star: “JaRon never received one cent from me since he’s been to UCLA. I haven’t even talked to him since he got to UCLA. It’s been that long. And if JaRon’s dealing with an agent, he’s on his own.

“Not one time have I sat down with the FBI about income-tax evasion, laundering. . . . I haven’t been in a courtroom. Nobody has gotten in touch with me about an investigation.”

Rush’s mother, Glenda, said Monday: “I knew he [JaRon] had to go to court about two weeks ago. He was here and gone. But I didn’t see anything wrong with him [JaRon].”

Piggie, a former custodian in the Kansas City School District, was once a major influence in Rush’s life.

But records show another side to Piggie away from his youth coaching. He has a criminal record dating to the ‘80s, when he was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and assault in Kansas City in 1987. After he pleaded guilty to the narcotics charge, the assault charge was dropped. He also was put on probation for five years. Two years later, Piggie was wounded by an off-duty police officer in a shootout outside a lounge and charged with brandishing a weapon. Authorities requested revocation of his parole, but a judge denied that request.

Piggie’s nationally known summer-league team featured brothers JaRon and Kareem Rush, Bruin Earl Watson, Corey Maggette of the Orlando Magic and Korleone Young. He was hired by Nike as a consultant for two years.

At the time, in 1997, Nike’s George Raveling, former USC coach and current network basketball broadcaster, praised Piggie. “I think he should be held up as a role model, as someone who started over and made a positive contribution to the kids,” Raveling told the Kansas City Star.