12:54AM EDT November 1. 2012 - The father of UCLA basketball freshman Kyle Anderson said he never had a doubt his son would be cleared to play after a four-month NCAA investigation because he was never told that the NCAA had specific evidence of rules violations.

"I know there were rumors about my family receiving stuff," Kyle Anderson Sr. told USA TODAY Sports in a telephone interview. "I actually moved out of my apartment and live with one of my fraternity brothers so I can save money so I can travel to see Kyle play. For all the rumors that said I received $250,000, ... I am a 50-year-old roommate."

Anderson Sr., also his son's summer league coach, said "anyone who knows this business knows I don't have to shop Kyle around. The vultures are going to come get him. I have a very unique position that the vultures — be it the college coaches or the agents — all know that I am in this business, so there is no reason to bombard me with phone calls because all my ducks are in line."

Anderson Sr. said NCAA officials told him they were not at liberty to tell him why they began investigating his son. Of specific concern to the NCAA was Anderson Sr.'s relationship with agent Thad Foucher.

"I don't know what the protocol is when you have a friend who is in a business and now you have a son in the business," said Anderson Sr., adding that he has known Foucher since Foucher was an AAU coach. "Through the years, our kids have been fortunately represented by Arn Tellem, who Foucher works with. Me and Thad are cool. But it's not like people can say, 'I saw them sitting here or there together.' We were never together. We do know each other, and we do talk on the phone."

There was also questions about the number of unofficial visits Anderson made to UCLA and who paid for them. Anderson Sr. said his son would not have taken any unofficial visits if it had been up to him. Anderson Sr. said his son requested one visit during the three years he has been a nationally recognized recruit, and that was to Arizona.

"We were out in L.A. for Adidas nation or our AAU team was out there playing," Anderson Sr. said. "That's the only time he went out there for visits."

Anderson Sr. said all the information the NCAA requested was given to the association in early August.

"Ben (Howland) really doesn't want me to go into depth about what the NCAA did because they still have to worry about Shabazz (Muhammad) being cleared," Anderson Sr. said. "He has asked me not to do anything to bash the NCAA. I don't want UCLA to have an uphill battle with the Shabazz situation."

Anderson Sr. said he is confident the NCAA will clear Muhammad, who is being investigated in part because of his family's relationship with North Carolina-based financial adviser Benjamin Lincoln.

Scout.com ranked Anderson fourth in the 2012 recruiting class, and the 6-8 forward from Jersey City is expected to contribute immediately for the Bruins.

Muhammad, a 6-5 guard from Las Vegas, was rated No. 2 in the class by Scout.com. He had been practicing with the team until suffering a shoulder injury last week. The school has said he'll miss two to four weeks.

The school officially announced Anderson's status Wednesday afternoon.

Freshman guard Jordan Adams tweeted: They finally FREE'D my bro @KyleAnderson5 from the NCAA ayyy lol

The Bruins are 13th in the preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. They open their season Nov. 9 at home against Indiana State.

Contributing: Nicole Auerbach

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UCLA's Kyle Anderson gets NCAA clearance

Fellow freshman Shabazz Muhammad's case is considered more complex.


By David Wharton and Baxter Holmes
D' LA Times
7:08 PM PDT, October 31, 2012

Now that UCLA guard Kyle Anderson has been declared eligible to play this season, the NCAA has narrowed its focus to the Bruins' other top freshman, Shabazz Muhammad.

Investigators were scheduled to interview Muhammad's parents — Ron Holmes and Faye Muhammad — late this week, according to people with knowledge of the situation who were not authorized to speak publicly.

The NCAA is examining whether Muhammad received improper benefits while in high school. The people said his family has turned over thousands of pages of personal financial documents in hopes of having him cleared.

In the meantime, the Bruins can finally — officially — welcome Anderson to the fold.
"It was a long and tedious process that, in my eyes, wasn't necessary, but we cooperated," said Anderson's father, Kyle Sr. "I had no doubt that he would be cleared because there was nothing for them to find."

The 6-foot-9 Anderson is expected to make an immediate contribution to the 13th-ranked Bruins. UCLA did not make him or any other players available to reporters Wednesday, but teammate Jordan Adams tweeted: "They finally FREED my bro @KyleAnderson5 from the NCAA ayyy lol."
Over the last month or so, the NCAA was thought to be investigating Kyle Sr.'s longtime relationship with NBA agent Thad Foucher.

The men met while coaching separate AAU teams and had maintained contact over the years. Foucher now works with Arn Tellem at the Wasserman Media Group, which was founded by UCLA alumnus and influential booster Casey Wasserman.

"The NCAA has found no evidence to substantiate claims of violations in his case," UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said of Anderson in a statement. "I am grateful to all those who were involved in the process."

People close to the situation had been expecting a positive outcome for the last few weeks. Muhammad's case is considered more complex.

Investigators have been looking into funds the 6-6 swingman received from Benjamin Lincoln, the brother of an assistant at his high school, who helped pay for unofficial recruiting visits to schools other than UCLA.

They also want to know more about his relationship with Ken Kavanagh, a New York financial planner who helped fund the summer team that Muhammad played for in his hometown of Las Vegas.

The family has said that Lincoln is a friend. As such, he might have been permitted under NCAA rules to give financial aid.

After hearing of Anderson's case on Wednesday, Muhammad tweeted: "Haha hopefully I'm next so we can get this season going!!!!"

There is no timeline for a decision. Muhammad is currently practicing with the team and eligible to play under a 45-day window that would run out a week or two into the season.

UCLA is scheduled to face Indiana State in the season opener at a renovated Pauley Pavilion on Nov. 9.

david.wharton@latimes.com;
baxter.holmes@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATimesWharton