Webber was ineligible in High School.

[The_herd]

I don't think this actually shocks anyone.

Associated Press

DETROIT -- Chris Webber was ineligible when he played basketball in high school because of his relationship with booster Ed Martin, the Detroit Free Press reported Monday.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association made the ruling Sunday, saying Webber was ineligible during the time he played at Birmingham Detroit Country Day, the newspaper reported. The association's executive director also urged the school to forfeit the three state championships it won with Webber.

Martin, who died Feb. 14, 2003, said he gave Webber and his family $280,000 from 1988-93, a period extending from his freshman year of high school through his sophomore season at the University of Michigan. Webber left for the NBA after helping the Wolverines reach the NCAA title game in both of his college seasons.

Webber, who now plays for the Sacramento Kings, was sentenced to community service last summer after pleading guilty to criminal contempt for lying to a grand jury about his dealings with Martin.

Jack Roberts, executive director of the MHSAA, said he found overwhelming evidence that the Webbers -- Chris; his father, Mayce Webber Jr.; and an aunt, Charlene Johnson -- received gifts and money that violated Webber's amateur standing, making him ineligible to compete in high school athletics.

"I think they should do it (forfeit the titles)," Roberts told the newspaper. "I've said it at the first, second and third meetings with them that they should voluntarily forfeit the contests and return the team championships and get it over."

Kurt Keener, Country Day's basketball coach and athletic director, said the school's headmaster would hold a news conference Monday or Tuesday to explain the situation.

Keener said he spoke with Webber's parents, who denied receiving gifts that would violate their son's amateur standing. Keener said he also spoke to Webber's attorney, who said his amateur standing had not been violated.

Martin gave $616,000 in illicit benefits to Webber, Robert Traylor, Maurice Taylor and Louis Bullock -- who all starred at Michigan.

Officials from Detroit Murray-Wright, where Traylor played high school basketball, voluntarily forfeited every game won during Traylor's senior season.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1748049

[Ksyrup]

Heh...my cousin went to school there.

[miami_fan]

Like many other things that go on in "amateur" sports I am sure if you took a hard look at some of the high school basketball factories throughout the US, you will see similiar things. Maybe not to the extent but it is there.