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SoCalHoops College News

Tito Maddox Dismissed From
Fresno State Team--(Aug. 22, 2001)

According to a story printed in today's Fresno Bee, and an official press release issued by the university, Fresno State University officials announced yesterday afternoon that Tito Maddox has been dismissed from the team for violating NCAA rules regarding the receipt of extra benefits from a sports agent, leaving the team without an experienced point guard for the upcoming season. Maddox, the WAC newcomer of the year, is expected to enter the NBADL, the new NBA development league or look for a playing situation somewhere overseas. The Fresno Bee carried a rather detailed story (a considerable amount of detail compared to the LA Times' story which also ran today) It appears from Eric Prisbell's detailed account that Fresno State and the Bee have been investigating Tito's association with two sports agents for some time now, at least since this past spring, when Tito went back and forth with putting his name into the draft and/or returning to school. And apparently it was that association with agents who were urging him to leave school, and his receipt of "extra benefits" (which are not detailed in the story) which triggered the dismissal by FSU. As Fresno State head coach Jerry Tarkanian said to the Fresno Bee: "I really feel bad for Tito," said Fresno State coach Jerry Tarkanian. "But the university did the only thing it could. These agents don't leave the kids alone. ... I'd like to see someone nail these types of agents."

The school issued a press release yesterday:

Maddox Dismissed from Men's Basketball Squad

The 2001 WAC Freshman of the Year Tito Maddox has career end after just one season.

Aug. 21, 2001

FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State has declared Fresno State men's basketball player Tito Maddox ineligible for competition and has dismissed him from the team. Maddox would have been a sophomore this season for the Bulldogs.

Fresno State Interim Athletics Director Scott Johnson took the action today. Maddox was dismissed from the team for NCAA rules violations governing the receipt of benefits from a sports agent.

Over the last several weeks Fresno State has worked with the NCAA to investigate claims that Maddox had received additional benefits in the spring of 2001 during the time he was considering whether to enter his name into the National Basketball Association draft. Maddox later decided not to be considered in the NBA draft and to remain in the Fresno State basketball program.

Johnson said Maddox had received information about rules governing such contact from Fresno State coaches and the campus' compliance officer. The rules were in effect even if Maddox submitted his name for the NBA draft.

"It's regrettable that this action had to be taken, but this is the second time there has been a problem related to receiving benefits from sports agents," Johnson said. "This is a clear violation of the NCAA rules and the university's student athlete code of conduct."

Maddox was named the 2001 WAC Freshman of the Year after leading the WAC in assists and ranking fourth nationally at 8.0 per game. He averaged 13.5 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per contest in his first season.

"It is Fresno State's policy to report any violation we become aware of and to work together with the NCAA," Johnson said. "We will continue that practice."

Last fall the Legislation and Interpretations Review Subcommittee of the NCAA ruled Maddox had violated the rule governing contact with sports agents.
As a result of that ruling, the NCAA staff ruled that Maddox was ineligible to compete in eight Fresno State men's basketball games. During the review, the University already had held Maddox out from playing a total of six regular season games. Maddox agreed to repay benefits paid by a sports agent at that time. The amateurism rule prohibits student athletes from receiving any special benefits as a result of their status as a student athlete.

We've also reprinted the Bee's story below, which can also be found along with other stories about Tito, in the Bee's archives.

Bulldogs dismiss Maddox
Extra benefits from sports agency led to Fresno State's action.

By Eric Prisbell
The Fresno Bee
(Published Wednesday, August, 22,
2001)

After withdrawing his name from the NBA draft this spring, Tito Maddox's return to the California State University, Fresno, men's basketball team was expected to help propel the Bulldogs deep into the NCAA Tournament. Instead, Maddox's college career suddenly is over and the potentially golden season has taken a hit.

Fresno State permanently dismissed Maddox from the team Tuesday for receiving extra benefits from Franchise Sports, the same Las Vegas-based sports agency he dealt with last fall in an encounter that prompted his eight-game suspension at the start of the 2000- 2001 season.

The dismissal leaves the Bulldogs without an experienced point guard and the 20-year-old Maddox without a clear pathway to the NBA. The returning Western Athletic Conference newcomer of the year, Maddox was named one of 50 finalists for the Wooden Award this coming season.

"I really feel bad for Tito," said Fresno State coach Jerry Tarkanian. "But the university did the only thing it could. These agents don't leave the kids alone. ... I'd like to see someone nail these types of agents."

After Maddox applied for the National Basketball Association draft in May, he accepted an airline ticket to El Paso, Texas, from Franchise Sports agent Ron Delpit, a source familiar with Fresno State's investigation of the situation told The Bee.

After returning from his trip to El Paso, where he worked out, Maddox informed Delpit -- a former Fresnan and a sports agent for more than 25 years -- that he would withdraw from the draft and repay him for the ticket.

Maddox never paid for the flight, and he also received a ticket to a Los Angeles Lakers home game from Delpit, the source said.

Fresno State and the National Collegiate Athletic Association began an inquiry less than a month ago after the school's athletic department received information of possible extra benefits, interim athletic director Scott Johnson said. Johnson, who declined to specify the extra benefits, called the violations
"pretty blatant."

"This is the second violation," said Johnson, acknowledging last fall's suspension. "This is a clear violation of the NCAA rules and the university's student-athlete code of conduct."

Maddox could not be reached to comment at his home in Compton, and his attorney did not return several phone calls.

Calls placed by The Bee to Franchise Sports in Las Vegas went unanswered Tuesday.

Maddox's high school coach, Rod Palmer, had heard his former player "was in some trouble" with the NCAA. "But when I saw him last week, he said everything was OK," Palmer said.

Maddox was told Monday night that his career at Fresno State was over, Tarkanian said.

"He was hurt a lot," Tarkanian said. "But in two years, though, Tito will be in the NBA. He'll go play in the developmental league this season and make $30,000 a year. He's an NBA player in every way except a jump shot."

Maddox drifted away from the team toward the end of last season after conceding he was influenced by outsiders encouraging him to enter the NBA draft. He briefly angered Fresno State coaches by flip-flopping on his decision over to stay or go.

Two sources said Maddox was speaking with Los Angeles-based agent Dan Fegan as well as with representatives from Franchise Sports throughout the spring. One source said Fegan advised Maddox to stay in school, while Franchise Sports urged him to leave.

Delpit represents Jeff Trepagnier, a former University of Southern California guard who is a close friend of Maddox's and was drafted in the second round by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Maddox's suspension last season stemmed from a trip he took to Las Vegas with Trepagnier. USC suspended Trepagnier for nine games, then he helped the Trojans reach the regional finals of the NCAA Tournament.

Maddox's dismissal left teammates shocked and disappointed. "What are we going to do at point guard?" guard Damon Jackson said. "I don't know where Tito's going to go now. He has no college education. Now I wish he would have gone into the draft."

Behind Maddox's erratic but often electric play, Fresno State reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, where it was beaten by Michigan State. The Bulldogs enter this season with returning Western Athletic Conference player of the year Melvin Ely, as well as potential All-WAC performer Chris Jefferies. Questions loom at point guard, however.

Tarkanian said Chris Sandy, an incoming 6-foot, 2-inch guard from Westark (Ark.) Junior College will start at point guard.