High school athletics scandal threatens Southeast Missouri State player's eligibility

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Two brothers now playing college basketball, one at Southeast Missouri State University, could lose their eligibility after their high school coach admitted that he paid to house, clothe and feed them so they could play at his school, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Tuesday.

Johnny Hill is in his third season at Southeast Missouri State University. His brother, Bobby, was a freshman at Illinois State University last school year, but transferred to Lincoln College, a two-year school in Lincoln, Ill., for academic reasons this year. He plans to return to ISU in the fall.

Athletics directors at all three schools say they're looking into the situation. They say both brothers could be banned from college basketball.

The Hills are from Alton, Ill. Both moved to St. Louis to play at Vashon, where the powerhouse basketball program racked up 10 state championships under coach Floyd Irons. Both got scholarships after their careers at Vashon. Both have unlisted numbers and could not be reached.

Johnny Hill is a sophomore shooting guard on Southeast's men squad, averaging 1.7 points per game this season.

The Post-Dispatch reported Sunday that Irons spent more than $25,000 to put up the Hills at an apartment near Vashon. The newspaper cited the transcript of an interview between Irons and the Missouri State High School Activities Association. Johnny graduated in 2005, Bobby in 2006.

Irons retired last year, but in September pleaded guilty to federal charges of mail and wire fraud in a real estate scheme. As part of his federal plea agreement, Irons was required to tell everything he knew about eligibility violations during his tenure at Vashon.

The athletics directors say the issue is whether the Hills remain amateurs. NCAA and junior college rules prohibit payment to players either directly or indirectly. A spokeswoman for the National Collegiate Athletic Association declined comment.

Even if the Hills are found to have accepted improper gifts from Irons, punishment could range from sitting out a game or two to permanent ineligibility, said Jayson Santos, Southeast Missouri State's assistant athletics director in charge of eligibility.

"But I have a bad feeling, I'll tell you that much," Santos said.

The state association is now investigating the high school eligibility of at least 15 Vashon players spanning nine school years, from 1998 to 2007, the Post-Dispatch reported. Vashon could stand to forfeit as many as five of the 10 state titles won under Irons over 33 years.

At the November meeting, Irons said he rented the apartment to remove the Hills from a cramped living situation in Alton, and that he cared for the boys like sons.

Bobby's coach at Lincoln doubted the high school housing issue would affect the boys in college.

"I think there have been any number of kids in this country who've needed a place to live -- kids on scholarships all over this country at boarding schools -- and they're not pros," said B.J. McCullum. Bobby is averaging 18 points per game, tops among Lincoln players.

"I've been coaching junior college basketball for 17 years," he said. "Bobby Hill is genuinely one of the finest people I've ever coached."

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch.