More universities deny recruiting Hart

By STEVE RANSON

sranson@lahontanvalleynews.com

Several more universities on Wednesday denied offering full-ride athletic scholarships to Fernley High School football player Kevin Hart.

During a ceremony at the high school in Fernley, Hart told the assembly that he decided to accept the University of California's offer. Since that time, Cal officials have denied Hart was ever offered a scholarship or recruited to the Golden Bears program.

The detective division from Lyon County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating the recruiting hoax.

After school was dismissal on Friday, Fernley football coach Mark Hodges left a voice message with the Lahontan Valley News sports department. He said Hart chose Cal over Oklahoma State University, Oregon, Illinois and Texas A&M. Officials from Oregon and OSU said Tuesday Hart never received any consideration from their universities.

On Wednesday, Texas A & M and Illinois also denied offering Hart any type of full-ride scholarship.

"He was not on any recruiting lists," said Alan Cannon, Texas A&M's associate athletic director for media relations. "Our compliance office said they have no record of phone calls made to this individual."

Cannon said universities usually recruit individuals who will be an asset to their programs. Cannon cited how one local player, Mark Dodge of Yerington, was a a good fit when he played for the Aggies during the past two years.

"Because of our military leadership background and history and his military experience, he was a good fit," Cannon said.

Illinois never recruited Hart either.

"Never heard of him," said Kent Brown, assistant athletic director for media. "We did not recruit this young man, and he was never in our data base."

Dave Williford, assistant athletic director for media services at Oregon, said he has never heard of an imposter acting as a recruiting agent.

"I've never hard of an instance like this, but it sounds possible if he carried it this far," Williford said.