Report alleges Indiana recruit Hanner Perea received improper benefits

By Kyle Neddenriep, The Indianapolis Star

An ESPN.com investigative report published Thursday alleges Indiana University recruit Hanner Perea received illegal benefits from his Indiana Elite travel program coach, Mark Adams.

In the story, which raises questions about Adams' Bloomington-based African Hoop Opportunities Providing an Education (A-HOPE) Foundation and Indiana Elite's connection with the IU basketball program, Adams admits to paying for Perea's trips home to Colombia through the A-HOPE foundation, as well as for a $400 laptop computer and a cell phone.

ESPN reported that could put Perea -- a 6-9 forward will be a senior next year at private La Lumiere School in LaPorte -- in violation of NCAA preferential treatment and extra benefits rules. Adams said Thursday he has met with the IU compliance staff and the NCAA via conference call about his relationship with Perea and the A-HOPE Foundation.

A-HOPE is a non-profit organization Adams founded in 2004 "for deserving student-athletes from across Africa (and other continents) ages 14 through 19."

"Nothing is being hidden here," Adams said. "I've met with IU's compliance staff with an outside legal rep there and the NCAA was there via conference call. There hasn't been any concern addressed with me. We've been working ahead to get everything out in the open. I've talked to the NCAA and volunteered to come up any time and talk. As far as I can see, there is no concern."

The story does not accuse IU or coach Tom Crean of any wrongdoing, though it does imply the Indiana Elite program for which Adams coaches has steered players to Indiana. Since early 2010, IU has picked up commitments from eight players with the A-HOPE program or with ties to Indiana Elite.

Mike Barnett, who is on Indiana Elite's board of directors, said the program does have a strong relationship with IU, as well as other college programs. On last year's rosters, Purdue and Butler each had four players on scholarship who came from the Indiana Elite program, while IU had three Indiana Elite players on scholarship and two walk-ons.

"The idea that there is a conspiracy to get kids to IU is ridiculous," Barnett said. ESPN also questioned the hiring of Adams' son, Drew Adams, as IU's director of operations/video coordinator in 2010 and his recent departure to New Mexico's staff amid questions about his father's involvement with A-HOPE and Indiana Elite.

"That's not even remotely close to what happened," Mark Adams said. "He played for (New Mexico coach) Steve Alford at Iowa. It was just another thing (ESPN writer Mark Fish) fabricated in the story."

Western Michigan coach Steve Hawkins said he was "sick" when he read the story Thursday. Hawkins has a player on his team, 6-7 senior-to-be Muhammed Conteh, who was part of Adams' A-HOPE program.

"Kids are going to play for (travel) programs they can trust," Hawkins said. "That's true for kids from Michigan, from Indiana. The (ESPN) article sensationalizes that these kids were taken advantage of because they are from Africa. That's ridiculous."

The story also accused Barnett of attempting to adopt former Indiana Elite player DeAndre Liggins without his mother's permission, then cut off ties to him when he committed to Kentucky instead of a school Barnett preferred.
Barnett said he broached the idea of adoption once -- to put Liggins on his insurance for impending surgery -- but then realized Liggins was already 19 and it would not be an option.