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MSU's Roberts may miss start of season


Senior forward accepted money to attend NBA workout, repaid all of it, mother says

By Ian R. Rapoport
irapopor@clarionledger.com

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State basketball star Lawrence Roberts may be barred from playing in at least the Bulldogs' first three games of the upcoming season because, his mother said Friday, he accepted money to attend a workout in Portland, Ore.

Roberts has repaid the money for the trip he took before the June National Basketball Association draft, and provided proof to the NCAA, according to Cynthia Roberts.

But there is a possibility he will not be allowed to play when his team's season begins at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in Birmingham on Nov. 11. Should he be penalized, the minimum is three games or 10 percent of the schedule, according to NCAA bylaws. State's schedule includes 28 games.
"He's been given clearance to practice, but Lawrence still hasn't been cleared by the NCAA (to play)," said Cynthia Roberts.

Mississippi State awaits a decision from the NCAA, which could come next week.

Roberts, a 6-foot-9, 240-pound senior forward, averaged 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds last season while leading MSU to a 26-4 record and the Southeastern Conference championship. He was a first-team Associated Press All-American last year and is considered one of the top players in college basketball this season.

The Houston, Texas, resident transferred to MSU last season from Baylor. This week he was named a unanimous first-team selection to the preseason All-SEC team picked by coaches.

Coach Rick Stansbury refused to comment, and Lawrence Roberts was unavailable for comment.

Bracky Brett, MSU's coordinator of compliance, said "Athletic department policy does not allow me to comment on any cases that are still in progress."

Roberts applied for entry into the NBA draft, but retained his amateur status because he did not hire an agent.

NCAA Bylaw 12.2.1.2 states that a player can attend a tryout, "provided the student-athlete does not receive any form of expenses or other compensation from the professional organization."

Roberts, who withdrew his name from the draft a week before it was held, accepted more than $900 in plane tickets and a hotel room to attend a May 20 workout with the Portland Trail Blazers, Cynthia Roberts confirmed.

It is customary for NBA teams to provide airfare and accommodations when potential draft picks visit the team for private workouts. Roberts also attended the NBA's pre-draft camp in Chicago, where dozens of prospects are brought together to play games and participate in drills under the scrutiny of NBA scouts, coaches and general managers.

In an interview this week, Lawrence Roberts said the Trail Blazer workout was the only private workout he attended.

"He's done everything he's supposed to do, right down to the penny," Cynthia Roberts said. "The Trail Blazers paid first, we called, got receipts on what they paid for, and we paid them back."

If Roberts were to miss three games, and MSU won its first two in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, his first game would be in the final round of the tournament at New York's Madison Square Garden on Nov. 19.

If he returns at the Garden, it would be reminiscent of former MSU star Mario Austin, who missed six games in the 2002-03 season while the NCAA looked into his high school transcript. Austin's first game that season was a 71-61 win over Xavier at Madison Square Garden.