Cal: I was told what games Wall would miss

Kentucky Coach John Calipari said Sunday that he did not make the decision on what games heralded freshman John Wall must sit out as part of the punishment for having some recruiting expenses paid by an agent.

In announcing Wall’s punishment Friday night, UK said the freshman would sit out Monday’s exhibition game against Cambellsville and the season opener against Morehead State on Nov. 13.

Calipari said that “they” told him what games Wall would miss. The UK coach did not identify who “they” were.

Were “they” the NCAA staff? UK’s athletic administration?

As part of the punishment, the NCAA ordered Wall to pay back $787.58. That payment would go to a charity, the Lexington Hope Center, which  UK said would help pay for thanksgiving meals for the homeless.

Calipari said he did not know how long Wall would have to make the payment or how many recruiting trips the $787.58 represented.

UK spokesman DeWayne Peevy said that Wall must make the $787.58 payment before he can compete in Friday’s exhibition game against Clarion. Peevy said that UK’s compliance officer, Sandy Bell, had advised Wall to save his Pell Grant money in anticipation of having to make such a payment. So Wall would have no difficulty making the payment.
When asked if Wall’s punishment was fair, Calipari noted that a judgment had been made. “It’s behind us,” he said.

Wall was not made available for interviews.