A Sea Of Red

UCLA men's basketball, coming off yet another down season that was highlighted by a scathing SI report about the state of the program, has the bulk of it's #2 recruiting class under NCAA investigation.

Freshman big man Tony Parker has been ruled eligible to play next season after initially being the subject of an inquiry, ESPN Los Angeles reported Monday night. Elite freshmen Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson remain in limbo as the NCAA looks into whether they received extra benefits that would jeopardize their amateur status.

Part of the issue for Muhammad is his family's relationship to financial advisers Benjamin Lincoln and Ken Kavanagh. CBSSports.com reported earlier this year that Lincoln and Kavanagh paid for two of Muhammad's unofficial visits and helped fund his AAU team.

The inquiry into Anderson's recruitment appears to center around his relationship with agent Thad Foucher, CBSSports.com reported Sunday. Foucher works for the Wasserman Group, whose founder Casey Wasserman is a UCLA alum and an important donor to the school.

As the crown jewel of the incoming class, Muhammad has faced the greatest scrutiny. Investigators want to know about money he allegedly received from Benjamin Lincoln, the brother of an assistant at his high school, to help pay for unofficial visits to Duke and North Carolina.

Officials are also looking at Ken Kavanagh, a New York financial planner who partially funded the summer team Muhammad played for in his hometown of Las Vegas.

Muhammad's family has said both men were long-time friends, and thus permitted under NCAA rules to give financial aid. Muhammad has said he expects to be cleared.

The Anderson investigation involves a reported relationship with Thad Foucher, an agent who works with Arn Tellem at the Wasserman Media Group. That company is headed by well-known UCLA alumnus and benefactor Casey Wasserman.