Report: NCAA expanding inquiry into Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel

The NCAA sent enforcement officials to the New Hampshire prep school of Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel this month to expand its inquiry into the nation's most heralded incoming recruit, according to a report from SI.com's Pete Thamel.

Thamel wrote:

The NCAA's questions focused on the cast of characters that surrounded Noel's recruitment and how Noel paid for his unofficial visits, according to a person with knowledge of the NCAA inquiry. This is the NCAA enforcement staff's second trip to New England regarding Noel. ... What made the NCAA's visit to [New Hampshire] intriguing is that a senior Kentucky official, UK chief compliance officer Sandy Bell, accompanied [the NCAA] for the meeting. Bell didn't ask many questions, according to the source, but did take notes and spoke up occasionally. The presence of two NCAA enforcement officials and Bell gives the appearance that this case has gone beyond the routine checking of top prospects, according to one former NCAA investigator.

So where will all this lead?

Maybe nowhere.

Maybe to something big.

But, regardless, it's pretty clear that the question-asking in regards to Noel has gone beyond anything any reasonable human could consider routine. The NCAA is looking at this recruitment from every angle, and it's not because the NCAA hates Kentucky and John Calipari (though I'm certain Kentucky fans and Calipari himself would disagree). The truth is that there have long been red flags surrounding Noel, and this probably would've happened even if he signed with Georgetown, Syracuse or anybody else. Either way, it's happening now. So Kentucky fans will be forced to spend the next few days or weeks or months just like UCLA fans will spend the next few days or weeks or months, i.e., wondering if their star recruit will be available when the season tips in November.