UK to release report on basketball violation

Calipari aide has left the program

By Jerry Tipton / jtipton@herald-leader.com

The University of Kentucky has acknowledged that Bilal Batley no longer works for its men's basketball program. A recent report linked him to an NCAA rules violation.

The Sporting News cited a source "close to the Wildcats" as saying UK reported to the NCAA a secondary rules violation committed by Batley, one of several people John Calipari brought with him from the University of Memphis.

Batley, whose hiring as assistant director of basketball operations/manager was announced by UK on May 30, left the school before the fall semester began, spokesman DeWayne Peevy said.

In response to an open records request from the Herald-Leader, UK is expected to release Tuesday its report to the NCAA on the violation.

According to The Sporting News, UK deemed that a secondary violation occurred when Batley shagged rebounds while a player took shots in early July. Apparently, Batley's job did not permit on-court interaction with players.

Peevy said Batley resigned his UK position and returned to his native Houston because of an illness in his family.

Batley could not be reached for comment.

Batley joined Calipari's staff at Memphis as assistant director of basketball operations/manager last fall, several months after the school's 2008 Final Four run.

Before Memphis, Batley worked for Kelvin Sampson at Oklahoma and Indiana. Both programs were found to have violated NCAA rules restricting phone contact with prospects.

A 2007 Oklahoma graduate, Batley worked as a manager for two seasons for Sampson at the school. At Indiana, Batley organized the program's recruiting information and mentored players.

Batley worked at the John Lucas Pre-Draft Camp in Houston for seven summers. According to an Indiana media guide for the 2007-08 season, he assisted with player skill development, practice schedules, advising and training.