Rashad McCants: A Controversial College Career and Beyond

Clyde A. Rashad Dion McCants, born on September 25, 1984, is an American former professional basketball player. He is known for his time in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and his international career. However, his college career at the University of North Carolina (UNC) is equally notable, marked by both success on the court and controversy off it.

Early Life and High School Career

Rashad McCants began his high school career at Clyde A. Erwin High School in Asheville, North Carolina. Later, he transferred to New Hampton School in New Hampton, New Hampshire, where he completed his high school education. In 2002, McCants led New Hampton to the New England Prep School Class A championship and was named MVP of the title game. He was an honor roll student at New Hampton and won the New Hampshire Player of the Year Award in 2001 and 2002. As a senior, he earned recognition as a Parade All-American and a McDonald's All-American.

Arrival at UNC: The Doherty Era and a Promising Start

McCants joined UNC for the 2002-2003 season. He was part of a highly touted recruiting class that included Sean May, Raymond Felton, and David Noel, all coached by Matt Doherty. As a freshman, McCants quickly made an impact, leading the Tar Heels in scoring with 17.5 points per game. The team reached the third round of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), where they lost to Georgetown.

Rising Star: Leading the ACC in Scoring

In the 2003-2004 season, McCants continued to shine. He led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in scoring, averaging 20 points per game. This performance helped UNC secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament as a sixth seed, although they were defeated in the second round by Texas.

The Championship Season: Expectations and Triumph

The arrival of freshman Marvin Williams for the 2004-2005 season elevated expectations for the Tar Heels. With McCants, May, and Felton leading the team, UNC was ranked highly in preseason polls and considered a favorite to win the NCAA Tournament. The team finished the season with a 33-4 record, winning the ACC regular season. McCants contributed 16.4 points per game. UNC earned a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament and ultimately won the national championship.

Controversy at Chapel Hill: Academic Allegations

McCants' time at Chapel Hill was not without controversy. He later made allegations of academic misconduct within the UNC basketball program. In an interview with ESPN's "Outside the Lines," McCants claimed that tutors wrote his term papers. He said that he rarely attended class for about half his time at UNC. He alleged that he remained eligible to play due to "paper classes" designed to keep athletes academically eligible.

McCants stated that he could have been academically ineligible during the championship season if not for the assistance he received. He further claimed that head basketball coach Roy Williams knew about the "paper class" system at UNC. These classes purportedly required students to submit only one term paper to receive a grade.

McCants also claimed he made the dean's list in the spring of 2005 despite not attending any of his four classes, for which he received straight-A grades. He said advisers and tutors steered him toward the paper classes within the African-American Studies program.

Mirroring Previous Allegations

McCants' allegations echoed earlier reports of widespread academic fraud at UNC. These reports, first published in 2011 by the Raleigh News & Observer, centered on the African-American Studies classes that many athletes took to remain eligible. An internal UNC investigation found that a significant number of classes in the department of African and Afro-American Studies were "aberrant" or "irregularly" taught.

The NCAA sanctioned the football program for improper benefits and academic misconduct involving a tutor. However, the athletic department's other sports programs largely avoided penalties related to the academic scandal.

Read also: Phoenix Suns' New Center

University Response and Investigation

In response to McCants' allegations, UNC athletics director Bubba Cunningham expressed disappointment and welcomed the opportunity to speak with McCants about returning to UNC to continue his academic career. The university hired former federal prosecutor Kenneth Wainstein to conduct an independent investigation into past academic and athletic irregularities. Cunningham encouraged McCants to speak with Wainstein.

Coach Roy Williams also issued a statement, strongly disagreeing with McCants' claims. He denied any knowledge or involvement in the alleged academic misconduct.

Transcript Discrepancies

An "unofficial" copy of McCants' university transcript revealed that in his non-African-American Studies classes, he received six C's, one D, and three F's. In contrast, in his African-American Studies classes, he received ten A's, six B's, one C, and one D. The UNC registrar's office declined to provide an official, signed transcript due to an outstanding issue regarding university property.

McCants' Perspective

McCants stated that it was common for basketball players to major in African-American Studies. He assumed that tutors writing papers for athletes was an expected part of the college experience. He believed that athletes were primarily there to generate revenue for the college, rather than to receive an education.

He acknowledged that he attended legitimate, core-curriculum courses during his first year. However, more than 50 percent of his courses were in African-American Studies. He claimed that he faced potential ineligibility during the championship season due to failing algebra and psychology. He said Williams informed him of his academic troubles and suggested a solution to maintain his eligibility.

Read also: About Grossmont Community College

Teammate Disagreement

Former Tar Heels player Sean May, who earned his degree in 2009, disagreed with McCants' portrayal of the academic experience. He stated that work was required in the classes and that he had to write lengthy papers for independent study. May said that McCants' views did not reflect the experiences of other teammates on the 2005 championship team.

Further Investigation and Reactions

Kenneth Wainstein, the investigator hired by UNC, welcomed the opportunity to speak with McCants and anyone else who could provide information about the issues under investigation.

Mary Willingham, a former UNC learning specialist, supported McCants' allegations. She believed that coaches were aware of the paper class system. She argued that the system would only change when athletes had a voice and stepped forward.

Matt Doherty, McCants' former coach, stated that he did not see any problems during his time at UNC. He expressed sympathy for McCants and trusted that the university would investigate any issues thoroughly.

McCants' Motivations

McCants stated that his decision to come forward was motivated by concerns about the future and the need for accountability within the system. He emphasized that his allegations were not directed at UNC fans or the Carolina program but at the system itself.

NBA Career and Beyond

After three years at UNC, McCants declared his eligibility for the 2005 NBA draft. He was selected 14th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves. During his first two years as a pro, McCants was bothered by injuries and did not play up to the expectations of fans. On February 19, 2009, McCants was sent to the Sacramento Kings along with Calvin Booth for Shelden Williams and Bobby Brown. McCants then signed with the Houston Rockets in September 2009, but had his contract retracted on the second day of the training camp. In the summer of 2010, he was scheduled to join the Cleveland Cavaliers' NBA Summer League team. In October 2010 the Dallas Mavericks signed McCants to their training camp roster. However, he was released only after a few days. In 2012, the Powerade Tigers of the Philippine Basketball Association acquired him as their import for the Governors Cup. On April 30, 2017, McCants was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 BIG3 Draft by Trilogy. On August 26, 2017, Trilogy won the first-ever Big3 League Championship.

Personal Life

In June 2008, McCants began dating reality television star Khloe Kardashian. The two were introduced by the National Football League player Reggie Bush who had been dating her sister Kim at the time. The relationship ended after seven months, in late January 2009, reportedly due to McCants's infidelity. He also made a brief guest appearance on her reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, during season 3 (episode 7). Eight years later, speaking with a Charlotte Observer reporter while looking back on his career in the NBA, McCants stated that the highly publicized relationship with Khloe Kardashian was the "biggest regret" because it "gave people an opportunity to doubt his commitment to the NBA", adding: "Without that situation in play, I’m a $60-70 million player."

tags: #rashad #mccants #college #career