Rashad McCants during North Carolina's 2004 05 championship season.(Photo Jeff Roberson AP)
North Carolina coach Roy Williams denied accusations that he knew of academic shortcuts and wrongdoing in a statement Friday refuting claims made by former Tar Heels player Rashad McCants.
McCants who was the No. 2 scorer on North Carolina's 2004 05 championship team told ESPN that he seldom went to class some of which were bogus and that tutors wrote his papers according to a report in Outside the Lines.
The report says that McCants would have been academically ineligible had he not been provided the assistance.
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McCants said Williams knew about the paper class system classes that didn't require students to attend they were required to submit only one term paper to receive a grade.
PLAYERS STATEMENT 16 players refute McCants' claims
Williams responded with a pointed statement
I strongly disagree with what Rashad (McCants) has said. In no way did I know about or do anything close to what he says and I think the players whom I have coached over the years will agree with me. I have spent 63 years on this earth trying to do things the right way and the picture he portrays is not fair to the University or me.
Williams also defended his players and program Our players have been deeply hurt over the last couple of years and again today by the comments and innuendo concerning their academic achievements. The young men who accepted scholarships to play basketball at this University have done so expecting a world class basketball experience in addition to a world class education. Obviously we pride ourselves on being one of the top basketball programs in the country but equally important in helping our players grow academically and socially as we promised their parents we would.
Following the broadcast of Outside the Lines 16 players from North Carolina's 2005 national championship team issued the following statement We are proud of our accomplishments both on and off the floor at UNC. With conviction each one of us is proud to say that we attended class and did our own academic work. We want to thank our advisers and counselors who supported us while also maintaining the integrity of the institution. We also want to make it clear that Coach Williams and his staff operated with the highest level of ethics and integrity within their respective roles. We are forever grateful for the lessons we learned on the court in the classroom and during our time in Chapel Hill.
In light of the comments made by Rashad on ESPN Outside the Lines we want to state that our personal academic experiences are not consistent with Rashad's claims. We know that Coach Williams did not have any knowledge of any academic impropriety and further that Coach Williams would not have tried to manipulate a player's schedule. Rashad will always be our teammate and we wish him well on all of his future endeavors.
The Tar Heels also found an unlikely ally in former North Carolina State basketball player Julius Hodge who told USA TODAY Sports I'm not their biggest ally but it seems like I am on the soapbox for them because there's just things you don't do. I'm not really enjoying that (being UNC's supporter) but the truth is you just can't believe everything this guy says.
Hodge played against McCants throughout college and played on the same Puerto Rico based team as McCants in 2012 when the two played for Caciques de Humacao.
Hodge who called McCants the worst teammate he ever had said he is dumbfounded why McCants is turning on the university team and coach he helped lead to a national title.
Even if the castle is burning you don't help it burn Hodge said. You won a national title there you had good times there why are you trying to bring down your alma mater
McCants told ESPN that he made the Dean's List in Spring 2005 despite not attending any of his four classes for which he received straight A grades.
McCants left school after his junior season and was selected 14th in the 2005 NBA draft by Minnesota. He last played in the NBA during the 2008 09 season.
From the Outside the Lines report
McCants who said it was common for basketball players to major in African American Studies said he assumed tutors writing papers for athletes was to be expected and he didn't question it while he attended UNC.
I thought it was a part of the college experience just like watching it on a movie from 'He Got Game' or 'Blue Chips ' McCants said. ... when you get to college you don't go to class you don't do nothing you just show up and play. That's exactly how it was you know and I think that was the tradition of college basketball or college period any sport. You're not there to get an education though they tell you that.
You're there to make revenue for the college. You're there to put fans in the seats. You're there to bring prestige to the university by winning games.
It's the latest revelation in an ongoing scandal at the school.
Mary Willingham a reading specialist at UNC who resigned after blowing the whistle detailed encounters with athletes who had never read a book or were incapable of writing a paragraph. The academic support program tolerated plagiarism and helped athletes remain eligible.
Willingham told CNN in January that her research of 183 football or basketball players from 2004 12 found 60 percent reading at fourth to eighth grade levels and roughly 10 percent below a third grade level.
UNC had called Willingham's findings flawed after its own internal review of her data which she provided to Provost James W. Dean Jr. on Jan. 13. She has stood by her findings.
Willingham met in April with former U.S. Justice Department official Kenneth Wainstein who was hired by UNC to conduct a review of possible fraud in the formerly named African and Afro American Studies (AFAM) department.
We are following the reports about Mr. McCants' collegiate athletic experience as they are directly relevant to our investigation of the intersection of athletics and academic irregularities at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Wanstein said in a statement. We have interviewed or attempted to interview a number of current and former UNC student athletes and we have received valuable insights and information from those who have agreed to speak with us. We would welcome the opportunity to speak to Mr. McCants or anybody else who can shed light on the issues we are investigating.
The NCAA sanctioned the football program for improper benefits and academic misconduct involving a tutor but there were few penalties overall.
UNC athletics director Bubba Cunningham said in a statement It is disappointing any time a student is dissatisfied with his or her experience. I welcome the opportunity to speak with Rashad McCants about returning to UNC to continue his academic career just as we have welcomed many former student athletes interested in completing their degrees.
Contributing Eric Prisbell and The Associated Press
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