Pac-10 to Look at Lavin

For the second time since the end of the season, the Pacific 10 Conference will investigate possible rules violations by UCLA basketball Coach Steve Lavin.

UCLA acknowledged that Lavin met with several high school players and their parents at UCLA on July 31, when the players were still competing in a tournament at Loyola Marymount for L.A.-based club team Pump-N-Run.

NCAA rules prohibit coaches from having contact with prospects during tournaments. Dan Coonan, the Pac-10 assistant commissioner for governance and enforcement, said the primary purpose of the rule is to keep coaches from recruiting players at a tournament site.

“The rule was put in place out of concern for student-athletes, so they don’t get a barrage of coaches in their face between or in advance of games,” he said.

However, the rule is not restricted to the tournament site, Coonan said. Because Pump-N-Run did not finish tournament play until Aug. 1, Lavin should not have met with the players, even at UCLA.

Lavin was unavailable for comment, but UCLA spokesman Marc Dellins said the athletic department is investigating.

UCLA will forward findings to Coonan, whose in-box is filling fast. The Pac-10 has yet to complete an investigation into more serious allegations of wrongdoing by Lavin sent by e-mail in April to senior UCLA administrators.

Lavin was alleged to have paid players and purchased cars for them, had illegal contact with recruits, provided a player with a personal trainer and bought a car for an independent academic tutor working with recruits.

Lavin, who has not spoken publicly about the letter, hired an attorney to determine the origin of the e-mail and pursue legal recourse.

The most recent allegations would be considered secondary--or minor--violations, Coonan said. Sanctions could include a verbal or written reprimand, or Lavin could be made to take a written test of compliance rules.

Two players who visited with Lavin are high on UCLA’s list of recruits--forward Brad Buckman of Westlake (Texas) High and point guard C.J. Watson of Las Vegas Bishop Gorman.