Here are 5 notable sections from KU’s response to its NCAA notice of allegations
The University of Kansas’ official response Thursday to a NCAA notice of allegations — including statements from lawyers of two KU coaches — totaled more than 300 pages, and that didn’t count in more than 200 pages of public exhibits made available.
So yes ... there was a lot to pore through with KU’s detailed response. After a review of these documents, though, a few sections stood out as either interesting or important as the school makes the case it should not be charged with the five Level I basketball violations as the NCAA alleges.
Was Cheick paid too?
KU’s response to the NCAA refers to a payment former Adidas representative made to a “then-Kansas men’s basketball student-athlete.”
Though the identity of the person is not completely clear because of heavy redactions, some hints indicate this could be former forward Cheick Diallo.
KU’s response says Gassnola made a payment to this player on March 22 of a certain year, though that player was “not playing in men’s basketball contests, and was about to declare his intention to enter the NBA draft.” Diallo was sparingly used late in the 2015-16 season, sitting out five of the Jayhawks’ final seven games.
In addition, KU claims that the NCAA alleged the payment was made to induce that player to return to the university. KU disputed that fact by saying the men’s basketball staff claimed that player’s status hadn’t changed from the beginning of the season, and he had no plans to return for another year.
KU said the player declared for the NBA Draft four days after he received the payment from Gassnola; published reports had Diallo officially declaring for the NBA Draft on March 28, which would have been six days later.
In addition, KU — while backing its position that the university had no incentive to pay the player who was about to leave — said, “Adidas’ primary interest in (redacted player name) was to sign him to an endorsement deal once he entered the NBA, which it did.”
Diallo, for what it’s worth, signed with Adidas before his first season in the NBA.
WhatsApp defense
One of the major talking points regarding the federal trials was Gassnola’s testimony that he paid KU player Silvio De Sousa’s guardian, Fenny Falmagne, $2,500 in an effort to help Falmagne purchase online classes for De Sousa.
KU’s response — while including a What’sApp text conversation between Falmagne (redacted) and Gassnola — appears to give much more insight on what took place with the transaction.
Here’s the transcript KU cited from What’sApp:
Falmagne (name redacted): Hey, how are you?
Gassnola: Good bro. What’s going on?
Falmagne: I got $2500 in the mail? Car repair?
Gassnola: For classes. LB (former KU coach Larry Brown) said to take care of you. LB is family.
Falmagne: (Redacted) Virtual?
Gassnola: Yes. Where are you with IMG?
Falmagne: It’s free [smiley face]... I appreciate the gersture [sic] but I’m good. No need for money. My wife freaked out seeing the car repair receipt.
Gassnola: Can’t give it back now. Just keep it.
Falmagne: LOL
Falmagne: I really don’t want to sound ungrateful for what you did. But I really need nothing money wise. I can really use your help with the used jersey for the poor kids in Angola. anything you have used or don’t need. If its any inconvenience please let me know.
KU’s response later stated with the money Falmagne received from Gassnola, he “donated $500 to the church and deposited $2,000 in his bank account.”
Text explanations
Two other well-known text exchanges referenced in the 2018 federal trial were Self writing, “We good” to Gassnola, in reference to De Sousa’s recruitment, and Gassnola later responding “[a]lways. That was light work. Ball is in his court now.”
Self’s attorneys — Scott Tompsett and William Sullivan — attempted to explain that conversation in their NCAA response, claiming it “has been the subject of substantial, irresponsible media speculation and projection.”
Self’s counsel asserts the nature of the talk was about Falmagne’s request for Adidas to send used gear that could be used by Angolan amateur players. The response cited Gassnola testifying under oath that “light work” was referencing “uniforms, bags and stuff that (Falmagne) wanted for Angola.” Self characterized the events the same way, saying “light work,” to him, was “whatever (Falmagne) talked to [KU assistant coach Kurtis Townsend] about” in regards to sending product to the Angolan program.
Self’s lawyers summarized by saying, “There is nothing about this exchange to suggest it is anything other than innocuous and benign.”
Mobster warning signs?
The NCAA responses also make reference to a pair of KU senior administration officials speaking openly about potential distrust of Gassnola.
David Reed, KU’s senior athletic director for compliance, stated during a 2017 Midwest Compliance Summit that “Adidas parades TJ Gassnola to our campus and this guy has the same rap sheet as (mobster) Lucky Luciano.”
KU assistant AD Sean Lester also seemed to be wary of Gassnola, describing him as “a large individual with a ‘boisterous personality’ who reminded him of (TV mobster) Tony Soprano in look, image, and persona.”
Lester, in KU’s response, is said to have indicated to former KU athletic director Sheahon Zenger that Gassnola was not his “cup of tea.”
Hotel dispute
According to the NCAA’s notice of allegations, some important contact between Gassnola and former KU player Billy Preston’s family took place at the Oread Hotel after the school’s annual Late Night in the Phog event in 2016.
The NCAA cites an email from KU director of basketball operations Fred Quartlebaum from two years prior that had Adidas representatives Gassnola and Jim Gatto on the same hotel floor as some of KU’s recruits.
Self’s attorneys assert that the school did not pay for Gatto and Gassnola’s rooms in 2016, while also making the claim there is no credible and persuasive evidence that KU knew Gatto and Gassnola were staying at the hotel.
KU’s response piggybacked that claim, saying, “The University notes that Gassnola apparently arranged for his own room at The Oread.” KU also stated Gassnola’s name was not on the group rooming list provided to the school.
This story was originally published March 7, 2020 at 9:32 AM.
