UK acknowledges Batley violated NCAA rule

Former University of Kentucky basketball staffer Bilal Batley received a “letter of admonishment” for committing a secondary violation of NCAA rules, the school acknowledged Tuesday.
In response to an open-records request from the Herald-Leader, UK said that Batley violated an NCAA rule on July 2 when he “participated countable athletically related activities with a student-athlete.”
Batley, who followed new head coach John Calipari from the University of Memphis, shagged rebounds for a current player. He also advised the player to shoot from particular spots on the floor, the UK letter dated Sept. 1 said.
Batley, whose title was men’s basketball administrative assistant, violated NCAA Bylaw 11.7.1.1.1 when he interacted on the court with a current player, the UK letter said.

Batley has resigned and returned to his native Houston because of an illness in the family, UK has said. UK officially announced his hiring on May 30.
Earlier in his basketball career, Batley worked for three programs subsequently found guilty of major violations of NCAA rules. The three were Oklahoma as a student manager, Indiana and Memphis.
In response to the open-records request, UK revealed two other secondary violations involving the basketball program earlier in the year.
Former assistant Tracy Webster violated a rule by engaging in a conversation with a prospect before April 22, which was prior to the permissible contact date. He received a letter of admonishment.
Another violation occurred May 26 when a current player — whose name was redacted in the open-records release — had his name used in an advertisement for The Reggie Warford Basketball Camp. The player was unaware of the advertisement, the UK letter said.
UK self-reported the three secondary violations.