Auburn University

JaRon Rush, Kareem Rush, Andre Williams, Jamal Crawford, DerMarr Johnson, Kevin Lyde, Erick Barkley. Now Chris Porter, Auburn's top scorer, has joined this not-so-elite set of talented student-athletes accused of taking "extra benefits" from over-zealous agents and other improper sources.

Porter was sidelined on February 27 after he admitted to accepting $2,500. Porter claims he needed the money to help his mother, who may be evicted from her Abbeville, Alabama home. The illicit loan was made after Porter met with Nate Cebrun, a shady Vegas character with a list of NCAA infractions a mile long. Cebrun has been pegged for improper dealings at UNLV and Florida State and once boldly told Sports Illustratedthat he used to manipulate high school athletes' test scores in his spare time. Cebrun denies that he wired Porter the money on behalf of a sports agent; he claims that the cash came directly from Colleen Priess, a Vegas woman known for her generosity with students in trouble, but not a licensed sports agent.

Coach Cliff Ellis hoped Porter's cooperation would bring leniency from the NCAA, but the organization denied Auburn's appeal and ended Porter's college career. The Tigers lost their last three regular season games without Porter, dropping a two-point decision to LSU on March 1 to surrender their chance at a conference title. They pulled together for most of the SEC tournament but lost the final game to unranked Arkansas.

Porter may have even more worries than missing the last few games of his senior season and watching his team slide down the rankings. He could face criminal charges. Under Alabama law, accepting money from a sports agent is a Class A misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and 70 hours of community service. Paying a student-athlete is a Class B felony, with a possible $5,000 fine and 20-year jail sentence. The Alabama Senate recently passed a resolution calling for further investigation of the Porter situation, which may lead to the prosecution of Porter and Cebrun.

From ESPN.com:

Auburn Declares Porter Ineligible

Porter's Future Up in the Air

NCAA, SEC Looking Deeper into Porter

Ruling Ends Porter's College Career

NBA Agent Linked to Auburn's Porter

From The Sporting News:

Ellis: Porter Probe Isn't Over at Auburn

Auburn Awaiting Ruling on Porter

NCAA Refuses to Reinstate Auburn's Porter

From CBS Sportsline:

Ellis Says Porter Admitted Taking Money

Investigation Into Porter Continues

Auburn Awaiting Ruling on Porter

NCAA Won't Restore Porter's Eligibility; Auburn Plans Appeal

Las Vegas Attorney Identified as Agent in Porter Case

From CNN/SI:

Porter Confesses: Sources Say Auburn Star Needed Money to Aid Mother

Has Nate Struck Again? Auburn Looking at Possibility Money Came From Cebrun

Porter Ruling Could Come Wednesday

Denied: NCAA Won't Restore Porter's Eligbility

Registered Agent Walsh Reportedly Paid Porter $2,500

Over and Out: NCAA Rejects Appeal, Porter's Auburn Career Over

From Total College Sports:

Investigation into Porter Continues

NCAA Refuses to Reinstate Auburn's Porter

Las Vegas Attorney Identified in Porter Case

Porter's Career Comes to An End

From the University Wire:

Gifts Carry Heavy Price for Student Athletes

Agent 'Runner' Denies Giving Auburn's Porter Money

From Today's Sports.com:

Ellis: Porter Admitted Taking Money

From Alabama Live:

NCAA Receives Porter Report

Porter's Fate with NCAA

Auburn Coach Holds Out Hope for Porter

Auburn Awaiting Ruling on Porter

Auburn to Appeal but Chances for Reversal are Slim

Porter Stays Grounded

Porter Situation Could Sway AU Seeding, Newton Says

Porter Still Out for Auburn-Florida Rematch

Las Vegas Attorney Identified as Agent in Porter Case

Vegas Attorney Implicated in Porter Case

From The Auburn Plainsman:

Auburn's Chris Porter Suspended

Auburn Star Porter's Eligibility in Question Amid a 59-88 Loss Against Florida

Porter Admits Taking Money

Porter's Dad Speaks Out

Porter Incident Reveals Larger NCAA Problems

NCAA Denies Auburn's Appeal for Porter's Reinstatement

Cebrun Proclaims Innocence: Known "Runner" for Sports Agents, Cebrun Says Las Vegas Woman Sent Porter Money

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