An update on the recruiting hoaxer of last year

[badger]

Kevin Hart tells how he duped everyone:
Video link here. (http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?categoryId=2564308&videoId=3809393)

In case you forgot last year's most famous recruiting story, Kevin Hart was a small town Nevada o-line guy that pretended he was a top recruit. It all came down to a press conference he had in his high school gym, where he lined up two hats - Cal and Oregon - and chose the Cal hat to signify that he accepted a Div. 1 scholarship.
ESPN Column (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?id=3236039)
USA Today article (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/2008-02-06-reno-confession_N.htm)

ESPN did a good job with the update and reveals some more details on the case, such as the fact that he had very poor, barely passing grades and that his coaches and parents were not involved at all with his recruiting, thus allowing him to cover up the facts for even longer.

A lesson to recruits and parents and coaches of recruits out there, definitely. Recruits: Be a star in the classroom and on the field. Parents and coaches: Be very involved in the recruiting process from start to finish.

[SoonerBoognish]

Not to imply that barely passing grades automatically makes someone stupid, but I have to say combining that with tricking all those people is pretty impressive. If he'd just use those deceitful skills for something useful... like law or politics.

[badger]

Not to imply that barely passing grades automatically makes someone stupid, but I have to say combining that with tricking all those people is pretty impressive. If he'd just use those deceitful skills for something useful... like law or politics.

I meant that as more of an example of how little guidance he truly had, that perhaps with more parental and coaching influence, they could have guided him to excel not just on the field, but also other aspects. From what his teammate interviewed in the video was saying, it also sounded like he was a cocky jerk to be around. I wonder how many gossipers were whispering after it happened 'Serves him right.'

[OU-HSV]

Interesting video there.
Wow, I remember that happening and I recall reading about it a lot on-line when it happened. What a screwed up kid. Hopefully he's getting himself on the right track by playing for the JUCO that video showed him at.
But gosh, you know that guy is gonna be taking sh*t the rest of his life for what he did. And it's tough to say he deserves a total pass anyways. He was old enough to know what he did was wrong, he was smart/creative enough to trick SEVERAL people including his own loved ones into believing him...I still have trouble feeling sorry for him.

[Bosley]

Not to imply that barely passing grades automatically makes someone stupid, but I have to say combining that with tricking all those people is pretty impressive. If he'd just use those deceitful skills for something useful... like brain surgery.

Fixed.

[PDXsooner]

You know, there's no question what he did makes him a complete idiot. However, he seemed pretty ashamed of what he did and he didn't rationalize it at all. That's really hard to do (Face an interviewer and answer questions) at 19 years old.

[soonerfan28]

Isn't he on our recruiting radar for 2009?

[Widescreen]

I wonder when he was planning on coming clean? Just a few days after his big announcement was signing day. When the LOI didn't show up, I wonder how long he thought he could maintain the hoax. :confused:

[KingDavid]

great story. thanks for posting it.

[Dan Thompson]

But the rest of the story is, he went on to be an outstanding player at USC and won the Heisman. Later it was found out that his parents live rent free in a home in San Diego that is/was owned by a sport marketing agency.

Nothing ever happened and the player went on to the NFL, was injured and is not playing, as far as I know.

[TXBOOMER]

I don't see how he fooled all of those people. You would think some of his buddies or coaches would have been checking out scout or rivals.

[badger]

I don't see how he fooled all of those people. You would think some of his buddies or coaches would have been checking out scout or rivals.

Never accuse Nevada of being smart... those casinos don't just live off tourist dollars, yknow ;)

Looking back, it is quite obvious that they never had a D-1 recruit or they would have seen all of the warning signs, had they had any experience at all in the process. If I was at that high school as a student still, or maybe as a parent of a student or just a resident of that community, I probably wouldn't have known the difference between facts and what this family and the coaches are telling me... but the coaches and family d@mn well should have.

[rainiersooner]

You know, there's no question what he did makes him a complete idiot. However, he seemed pretty ashamed of what he did and he didn't rationalize it at all. That's really hard to do (Face an interviewer and answer questions) at 19 years old.

Unlike, uh, say JD Quinn!!!

[badger]

When one update is not good enough, ESPN provides... yet another update on the recruiting hoaxer of last year!

Here. (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=kevinhart)

It is basically like the video link from earlier, except in story written form. It also tells other details on choosing his Juco college number, what his experience has been like at the Juco so far (whoopsies, has skipped a few classes!) and more about his almost-recruiting process.

Quite honestly, he probably could have kept the lie alive by declaring not for Cal or Oregon... but the armed forces. Seriously! "I love my country and have decided to put my future college career on hold so I can served in the Army/Navy/Marines/Air Force."

No more lies, just a 2-4 year commit in a far away country. It would have saved him from the inevitable public embarrassment.

However, since that's not happening, it's good to see that there's light at the end of the tunnel and all.

[8timechamps]

I've followed this story from the beginning. ESPN was all over it when he was found out.

It's not hard for me to see how he got away with it. Small town, no D1 recruits from that area. Even his coach said he was considered a one or two star prospect at the start of the season...that would explain why he wasn't found out by his buddies (he could have just said "they don't list all of the one or two star guys").

From the sound of things, he actually took a trip to Washington (I don't know if he was invited, or if it was an official visit)...so, he was getting some publicity early on.

I think it's more sad than anything. To think that there was a kid out there that had put being recruited to a D1 school so high, that he would weave this web of lies, is just sad to me.

The worst part is that he will never be able to forget this for the rest of his life. Can you imagine? Going back home to visit your family, running into freinds from HS, etc.

I wish him well. Seems like he learned his lesson.

[badger]

From the sound of things, he actually took a trip to Washington (I don't know if he was invited, or if it was an official visit)...so, he was getting some publicity early on.

I read this in one of the stories (I think it was off of ESPN.com) too. He borrowed money from a family member to take the trip, then lied to family, friends and coaches about what he actually did there. Washington expressed interest (they sent recruiting pamphlets like they probably do to 1,000 other recruits) when he gave them a highlight tape, but upon seeing his grades, they said "No thanks" and that was the end of that.

This guy apparently had, like, a 1.0 GPA. He obviously was only in high school to play football. It's a good lesson to recruits out there who don't think the academic side of "student-athlete" is important. Your grades can eliminate you from many, many school's considerations no matter how good you are at football.

[BillyBall]

This guy apparently had, like, a 1.0 GPA.

How in the hell did he play high school football with a 1.0 GPA?

[badger]

How in the hell did he play high school football with a 1.0 GPA?

Good question! One of the ESPN articles actually answers this here. (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=kevinhart)


Kevin, in his early stages of high school, found out that Fernley students were eligible for athletics as long as they earned passing grades. In other words, a lowly 1.5 grade-point average could still land you on the field. "Most of the football guys simply shoot for Ds," says a Fernley student who wishes to remain anonymous. "They don't care about school."

The article continues to illustrate that state requirements for student-athletes in Nevada must pass every class AND have a 2.0 GPA to be eligible. Hart, according to the article, had a 1.8 GPA, but the school ignored the rules.


Fernley's explanation, according to Eddie Bonine, executive director of the NIAA, was that the school went by a statute in the NIAA handbook that says student-athletes must pass every class or have at least a 2.0 to be eligible. But there's another statute, No. 386.806, which states an athlete must have both passing grades and a 2.0 -- a statute to which the rest of the schools in the state adhered.

"Fernley chose the 'or' statute, and nobody else did," says Bonine, who was the principal at Fernley seven years ago. "They read it differently … and that has been rectified. … With a 1.8, Kevin Hart [should have] been ineligible to participate."

I didn't remember the exact GPA when I said "1.0," but I remembered that it started with a one. :( Sad case.

[BillyBall]

Good question! One of the ESPN articles actually answers this here. (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=kevinhart)



The article continues to illustrate that state requirements for student-athletes in Nevada must pass every class AND have a 2.0 GPA to be eligible. Hart, according to the article, had a 1.8 GPA, but the school ignored the rules.



I didn't remember the exact GPA when I said "1.0," but I remembered that it started with a one. :( Sad case.


Wow, that is really sad...

[8timechamps]

The real truth is, if you are an exceptional athlete, you'll play in college regardless of how poorly you do in school.

When I played in high school (granted it was almost 20 years ago), we had an all-state DB that was being heavily recruited by almost every D1 school. This individual was the most amazing athlete I had (and have) ever seen. But he read on about a 5th grade level. He missed classes on a routine basis. Yet, be played every Friday. Unfortunately, there were others on the team, not nearly as gifted, with poor grades...that did not play.

This individual somehow got his diploma (still a mystery to me), and became a Division 1 player (in the state of Oklahoma...if that helps any). Starter even.

Maybe things have changed since then. I'm sure they have at the college level. But, I'd be willing to bet my house that this practice still goes on at many high schools in this country.

I don't know every person that reads these message boards, so in respect of this individual, I will not mention his name or the school he attended. He didn't go on to play pro football (not to my knowledge anyway), so I can only hope he made the most of his time in college.