Related Links: No Rush: Missouri forward suspended from team
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The coach, Myron Piggie of Kansas City, continues to be a central figure in the UCLA investigation regarding JaRon, a sophomore forward.

Piggie denied any involvement in possible NCAA violations Tuesday, telling SportsLine:

"That issue out there with JaRon right now? My name shouldn't even be brought up." Piggie said. "I haven't been out there or influenced nobody. I don't have anything to do with those kids at all."

However, JaRon was suspended by UCLA athletic director Peter Dalis on Friday after testifying last month for a grand jury investigating Piggie.

He might have spoken about possible NCAA violations, according to published reports. Piggie is reportedly being investigated on suspicion of income tax evasion, fraud and money laundering.

The scope of the investigation regarding possible NCAA violations seemingly broadened Tuesday, as Rush's brother Kareem, a freshman at Missouri, was suspended indefinitely for what the school called a possible violation "prior to his enrollment."

Kareem's suspension apparently involves his time as a member of Piggie's AAU team.

But the trail doesn't end there. SportsLine has learned that Piggie and Los Angeles-based sports agent Jerome Stanley, reportedly being investigated by UCLA, knew each other and at one time had a business relationship.

Stanley represented Piggie's cousin Korleone Young, a former blue-chip high school player in Wichita, Kan., who was drafted out of prep school by the Detroit Pistons in 1998. Approximately six months after he "fired" Stanley as Young's agent in the summer of 1998, Piggie said he was visited by a representative of the Internal Revenue Service.

There is no reason to believe the two occurrences are related, but Piggie did say of his dealings with Stanley:

"I wouldn't be surprised if Jerome went after JaRon. I wouldn't be surprised, not one bit," Piggie said. "Some agents do that. That particular agent right there, I wouldn't put it past him. He'd do anything to try to get back at me because he's upset because we fired him."

Piggie referred the IRS agent to his accountant and thought the matter was closed. In fact, Piggie was surprised to hear of a grand jury investigation.

Stanley represents some NBA players and New York Jets receiver Keyshawn Johnson. SportsLine did not receive a call back from Stanley after leaving messages at his office.

Both Rushes could be declared ineligible if it is determined they received improper benefits while playing in high school and/or college. The brothers both played on Piggie's nationally known summer league that traveled around the country playing in major AAU tournaments.

At one time that team included both Rushes, current UCLA guard Earl Watson, current Orlando Magic player Corey Maggette and Young. During that time, Piggie was hired as a consultant by Nike for two years at an annual salary of $50,000, according to a published report.

Some believe the fee was the result of a bidding war between Nike and Adidas for the services of JaRon Rush and Young. Each shoe company wanted the players to attend its summer camp. While that is nothing improper in the NCAA's eyes, it is at least unethical.

"They're (high school players) not supposed to get a salary obviously," said a spokesman in the NCAA's legislative services division. "They can be provided money for actual necessary expenses. (The NCAA rules manual) doesn't give a dollar amount. The overall premise is you're not supposed to get paid to play, but these expenses from these amateur teams are OK."

However, any financial or oral agreement entered into with an agent means a player has turned professional and has lost college eligibility.

JaRon Rush was placed on suspension by UCLA athletic director Peter Dalis on Friday.(Allsport)

"I don't know what to say," Stanley told the Los Angeles Times. "I haven't done anything (against the rules) with JaRon Rush."

JaRon is widely considered the best high school player to come out of Kansas City. He played on the same Pembroke Hill team with his brother until leaving for UCLA in 1998. JaRon ruled out Missouri almost immediately during the recruiting process and concentrated on Kansas and UCLA.

He made headlines during his recruitment by criticizing Kansas coach Roy Williams' style. Williams promptly dropped the recruitment of JaRon.

Kareem was Missouri's "Mr. Show Me Basketball" and as a senior in 1998-99 succeeded his brother as the best player in the state. He was the Tigers' No. 2 scorer before being suspended.

"We're in the process of collecting information regarding Kareem's situation," Missouri athletic director Mike Alden said in a statement late Tuesday afternoon. "We feel holding him out of games at this time is the proper course of action, and we'll determine our next step when the investigation is concluded."

Typically in these cases, schools can declare players ineligible and then ask the NCAA to reinstate them while allegations are investigated. JaRon, though, has sat out one game and is expected to miss Saturday's game against DePaul.

"That would hurt me deeply," Piggie said of JaRon. "That would be tragic to take that kid's eligibility away for something he did. Evidently when JaRon left (Kansas City) he was in good standing with everything. There weren't any agents around him. He wasn't dealing with anybody."

Piggie said he hasn't spoken to JaRon since last year. JaRon left UCLA unexcused for a few days after it was later reported he was homesick.

"I told JaRon he better get his butt back on that plane and get back to school," Piggie said. "I haven't heard from him since."

Piggie has scaled back his coaching activities after the recent shooting deaths of a brother and uncle, but at one time he was one of the most influential and well-known amateur coaches in the country. With that attention came scrutiny. The Missouri State High School Activities Association accused Piggie of selling shoes provided to him by Nike back to his players at above retail value.

Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City withdrew its sponsorship of the team in the spring of 1998.

Piggie's brush with the law goes back to 1987 when he was charged with assault and conspiracy to distribute cocaine in Kansas City. According to police, Piggie was fleeing the scene in his car when he broke the leg of a federal drug agent.

Piggie plea bargained and served 120 days in a halfway house while the assault charge was dropped.

He was also placed on five years' probation. Federal authorities tried to get that probation revoked in 1989 when Piggie was wounded in a shootout with two off-duty Kansas City policemen outside a bar. A judge denied the revocation of probation.

"We're talking almost 15 years ago," Piggie said. "Fifteen years is a long time. I'm not no street guy doing this and doing that ... I'm really surprised at the whole situation. I would never do anything to hurt none of those kids."