USC basketball: USC never contacted star Rutgers player allegedly involved in tampering, sources say

Multiple sources close to the USC men's basketball program said no one on the staff has ever contacted Rutgers star guard Mike Rosario, either before the sophomore guard asked for a release recently or after.

This comes after a recent report out of New Jersey citing anonymous sources close to Rutgers stating the university will file tampering charges against USC regarding Rosario's potential transfer.

Rosario does have ties at USC, where his former St. Anthony High School teammate Jio Fontan transferred last winter after leaving Fordham University. But the report does not make clear how, if at all, USC may have tampered with Rosario, who led the team in scoring each of the past two seasons.

The report cited sources stating that tampering charges would not be filed against USC until Rutgers has hired a new coach. That could be soon. Fred Hill, the current coach, is expected to be fired Monday, but that process may not be finalized for several days, according to a report.  

A spokesman for Rutgers said the university is not commenting on allegations that the university would file tampering charges against USC, or the report that stated such, and that Rutgers Athletic Director Tim Pernetti declined comment.

-Baxter Holmes 

 

Photo: Mike Rosario. Credit: Henny Ray Abrams / Associated Press.