Oklahoma opens internal investigation
March 31, 2010
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)—Oklahoma’s athletic department has opened an investigationfollowing reports that basketball player Tiny Gallon received money from aFlorida financial adviser.
Spokesman Kenny Mossman confirmed in an e-mail to The Associated Press onWednesday night that Oklahoma is “investigating matters that the public may beaware of through recent reports in the media.” He did not provide specificinformation about the investigation.
TMZ.com reported earlier this month that Gallon received a $3,000 banktransfer from financial adviser Jeffrey Hausinger. The internal investigationwas first reported by the Tulsa World, which received notification that theuniversity could not respond to an open records request about the case becauseof the ongoing investigation.
The school did not respond to a similar records request filed by TheAssociated Press earlier this month. A call to the records office after businesshours Wednesday went unanswered.
Oklahoma remains on probation for major NCAA rules violations committed byits football and men’s basketball programs in recent years. The footballviolations involved football players, including starting quarterback RhettBomar, receiving pay for work they did not perform at a Norman car dealership.The basketball violations stemmed from hundreds of impermissible recruitingphone calls made by former coach Kelvin Sampson.
Gallon was suspended for undisclosed reasons for Oklahoma’s game at OklahomaState in mid-February but returned to play the remainder of the Sooners’ games.The former McDonald’s All-American appeared in each of Oklahoma’s other 30 gamesthis season and started 21 times, averaging 10.3 points and a team-high 7.9rebounds.
Since the end of the season, Oklahoma has lost two other players. Pointguard Tommy Mason-Griffin, also a former McDonald’s All-American, decided toturn pro after his freshman season and reserve guard Ray Willis opted totransfer.
The university has declined requests to interview coach Jeff Capel.
Associated Press Writer Murray Evans contributed to this report fromOklahoma City.
Become a Fan of Yahoo! Sports on Facebook for breaking news and exclusive contests and prizes.