NCAA: Assistance from Greer Love to Texas signee Mohamed Bamba “does not violate rules”

The late-June accusations by the half brother of Texas Longhorns forward Mohamed Bamba won’t have an impact on the eligibility of the nation’s consensus No. 2 prospect, as the NCAA released a statement on Tuesday clearing the relationship between Bamba and his longtime mentor, Greer Love.

“After evaluating all available information, the NCAA determined the assistance Greer Love provides to Mohamed Bamba does not violate rules. Bamba remains certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center,” the statement said.

In a profane rant on Facebook Love, Bamba’s half brother, Ibrahim Johnson, accused Love, a Michigan-based investor, of providing Bamba with impermissible benefits, including a television, shoes, a bed, $200 a week, vacations and even new teeth, while also admitting that Love has given him money, as well, including $2,000.

In addition to the social media tirade, Johnson said he’s already reported these allegations to the NCAA.

“He’s not going to play this year in the NCAA because I already reported him to the NCAA and I’m already going to meet with the NCAA,” Johnson said in the video. “He’s not going to play this year. I’m not going to lie to you. I exposed that kid.”

In 2008, Love met Bamba after he founded an after-school program called “Locke’s Lions” at Bamba’s elementary school in Harlem that provided academic and basketball support to underserved students.

And, just as it had done previously, the NCAA once again determined that Love and Bamba had not committed any violations because of their preexisting relationship.

“Based on the information provided, the relationship between the SA and Mr. Love meets the 6/6/2000 pre-existing relationship test,” reads the NCAA’s interpretation. “In this case, the relationship between the SA and Mr. Love developed when the SA was in 4th grade through an after school mentoring program. Although the mentoring program had both an academic and athletics purpose, their relationship was not established based on the SA's ability or reputation as an athlete.

“Further, the pattern of communication between the SA and Mr. Love has been continuous and the benefits provided to the SA have been consistent since the establishment of their relationship. In addition, Mr. Love has a consistent, established pattern of providing comparable benefits to other individuals (and family of individuals) who were also a part of the mentoring program and most of which are pursuing nonathletic career paths/opportunities.

“Therefore, based on the information provided, the benefits provided to the SA by Mr. Love are not in violation of NCAA amateurism rules. Further, any future benefits provided to the SA by Mr. Love are permissible provided the pattern of such benefits remain consistent. Finally, there is no evidence in the facts provided that Mr. Love meets the definition of an agent for purposes of NCAA rules.”

Bamba is the crown jewel of head coach Shaka Smart’s 2018 recruiting class after shocking the college basketball world in May by committing to and signing with the Longhorns over a host of blue-bloods programs.

Expected to be a top pick in next year’s NBA Draft, Bamba will try to replace the production of the departed Jarrett Allen, who was drafted in the first round by the Brooklyn Nets last month.