Odom not helping in probe

Steve Addy

Wednesday, May 3, 2000 | 10:06 a.m.

UNLV is still hoping for Lamar Odom's cooperation in its investigation into alleged NCAA rules violations, but the former blue-chip basketball recruit has this message for the Rebels: Take a hike.

Though the school Tuesday gained a one-month extension from the NCAA to respond to the charges, giving it until June 10, the Rebels need not bother asking Odom again to sit for an interview.

Odom, recruited by UNLV in 1997, said through his agent that he has told NCAA investigators all he intends to say on the matter.

"Lamar said he has nothing to add to what he told the NCAA (last year)," said Jaymee Messler, assistant to Odom's agent Jeffrey Schwartz. "Lamar talked with the NCAA for three hours and he told them everything he knew. He was comfortable with that. That's the way he feels."

Odom, who just completed his rookie season with the LA Clippers, is at the center of the most serious allegations against coach Bill Bayno's program.

In its letter of inquiry, received by UNLV on March 14, the NCAA alleged that Rebels booster and Las Vegas dentist Dr. David Chapman gave $5,600 to Odom, $4,000 while Odom was enrolled in a summer class at the school. The inquiry alleged that Bayno solicited booster Sig Rogich to give Odom a job and "failed to adequately monitor" his program for compliance with NCAA guidelines.

The 12-month NCAA investigation yielded several other allegations, including Las Vegas attorney and booster Steve Stein giving $400 to players and a UNLV player lying to investigators.

UNLV had until May 10 to investigate and respond to the allegations and was scheduled to appear before the NCAA Committee on Infractions June 16-18 at Lake Tahoe, Calif.

However, the school now has until June 10 to respond, and its appearance before the infractions committee has been pushed back to Aug. 11-13 in Beaver Creek, Colo.

UNLV athletic director Charles Cavagnaro said the school sought the extra month because a vital witness in the case "has yet to make himself available for an interview." Cavagnaro would not reveal the witness, but Rebels sources said Odom and his aunt Janenean Mercer have rebuffed the school's numerous interview requests.

The university doesn't possess subpoena power, so it can't compel Odom or Mercer to testify. Odom has no love for UNLV, either, considering the school released him from his official letter of intent in July 1997. Odom spent one season at Rhode Island (1998-99) before being drafted by the NBA's Clippers last spring.

Cavagnaro said further attempts to interview Odom will be made.

"We're going to exhaust every avenue," Cavagnaro said. "We feel the extra 30 days will allow us an opportunity to do that. Even if the witness doesn't make himself available, we still plan to complete our written response (by June 10)."

The NCAA has already cleared time on its August agenda to hear the UNLV case, Cavagnaro said.

"Our concern has always been to get this done as soon as possible -- certainly before the next basketball season," Cavagnaro said. "We will still be able to keep that schedule."

Bayno said he does not believe stretching the case into late summer will have a negative effect on his program.

"We're taking positive steps to make sure we gather all of the information as accurately as we can," he said. "I feel very good about our position."

The information gathering includes talking to the accused boosters, both of whom deny the allegations. Chapman and Stein have cooperated with the investigation, UNLV sources said, and Chapman's attorney confirmed that. He said Tuesday his client has cooperated since the school's preliminary investigation in August.

"David spoke extensively with UNLV even before the NCAA asked to talk to him," attorney James Chrisman said. "Even now, any information they want, David will provide."

Chapman admitted to the NCAA that he gave about $2,000 in cash, food and services to Odom after UNLV released Odom from his letter. However, the NCAA contends Chapman gave Odom $4,000 in chunks of $400 and $800 between early June and July 25, 1997. After that, the NCAA says he gave Odom $1,600 in cash; provided him with free room and board; paid for Odom's multinight stay at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas; and performed free dental work on Odom.

When the NCAA issued its allegations, Chrisman said, "Much of it is semantics, but in general, David Chapman denies that he did anything wrong. Some of these (allegations) are ridiculous and comical, and David is mad that stuff is being made up about him.

"David didn't give Lamar Odom any money until after UNLV let (Odom) go. The kid had nowhere to live here in Vegas, so David let him stay in the guest room of his house. Yes, he ate there and he drove David's car, and David did some dental work for the kid. As an estimate, it might have come to around $2,000.

"But while Lamar was living there, he also baby-sat for David's kids. When you look at the time he was there, the kid was probably underpaid."

The NCAA inquiry acknowledges that Bayno told Chapman to disassociate himself from Odom, but he did not notify school personnel that potential NCAA violations might have taken place.