Duke to self-report violation

Duke athletics officials have initiated a self-report to the NCAA over associate head basketball coach Chris Collins’ impermissible attendance Friday at the GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational high school tournament.

Friday was the final day of the Dec. 24-26 recruiting “dead period,” during which NCAA rules prohibit college coaches from attending high school games. Collins was at Broughton High’s Holliday Gymnasium as featured games included Ravenscroft-Apex and Word of God-Rocky Mount.

“Obviously he would not have been there if he had known it was a dead period,” said Jon Jackson, Duke’s associate athletics director for communications.

Jackson said the school’s NCAA compliance staff has been informed of the violation and was beginning the process of reporting the violation to the NCAA.

When schools become aware of violations, they typically notify the NCAA and propose self-imposed sanctions. The NCAA often classifies inadvertent violations as “secondary” rather than “major,” and then imposes sanctions, but it’s never clear how the NCAA will rule until it issues its judgment.

In the case of isolated improper recruiting contacts or evaluations of players, the NCAA often reduces the number of recruiting contacts or player evaluations a school can make in a future year.

It’s not clear when Duke will formally submit its report to the NCAA or when the NCAA will respond to Duke’s report. Typically schools inform the NCAA immediately when a violation occurs, then interview the party or parties involved at length before sending a comprehensive report to the NCAA.

Forward Ryan Kelly, a senior who has committed to Duke, plays for Ravenscroft. Word of God’s roster includes John Wall, the top uncommitted point guard in the current senior class.