Former Hog Beverley says he violated NCAA rules

BY NATE ALLEN Northwest Arkansas Times

Posted on Sunday, August 17, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/68210/

University of Arkansas basketball guard Patrick Beverley has been quoted that his recent departure from the Razorbacks stems from him violating NCAA rules.

In his blog, Jeff Goodman of FOXsports. com quoted the Razorbacks’ junior-to-be guard who was announced by the UA on Aug. 8 as not playing for the Razorbacks in 2008-2009.

It had been reported, including by Goodman, that Beverley not returning to the Razorbacks was related to academics.

“ It had nothing to do with academics, ” Beverley is quoted by Goodman in a FOXsports. com blog. “ I violated NCAA rules and what happened went over the coaches’ heads. A lot of people thought it was because of grades, but I go to class every day. ”

Citing student privacy laws, the UA reported in its press release of Aug. 8: “ The University of Arkansas, including its administrators and coaches, will have no further comment. ”

Kevin Trainor, the UA’s associate athletic director for media relations and communications, said Saturday the UA will continue not commenting because of student privacy laws.

A native of Chicago, Beverley was the SEC Newcomer of the Year as a freshman for former coach Stan Heath’s Razorbacks in 2006-2007, and tied with center Darian Townes as Arkansas’ second-leading scorer last year for coach John Pelphrey’s Hogs.

Beverley, according to Goodman, intends to go pro overseas and showcase for next June’s 2009 NBA draft.

“ I’m going overseas for a year and hopefully I’ll be able to come back and get picked in the draft, ” Beverley is quoted. “ This was hard because I was working out with the team every day and getting ready for the season. ”

Arkansas’ best defensive guard the past two seasons, Beverley (6-1 ) averaged 12. 1 points and 6. 6 rebounds last season and averaged 13. 9 points and 4. 5 rebounds his freshman year.