UCLA freshman phenom raises postgame eyebrows

Dude is getting paid!

Somebody needs to tell these kids about perception. Could be legit...mom and dad bought it. Maybe got it off Craig's List. Who knows. But why would you open yourself (and your school and program) to this kind of scrutiny and press? Dumb...

Is this a story about women's basketball?

Idiot.

Here's your quarter SVT...

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 09:07 AM ET  01.25 by ekelicanwvu

Dude is getting paid!

LMFAO, this article is all full of holes!!

The author of this article stated: "I'm just saying a college kid wearing Gucci catches the eye". No, Pat Forde, what catches the eye, is "you are a -ucking idiot", for even writing and posting this article!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree with Oldtimer. These "journalists" should stick to news. This kid, along with his teammates, is bringing in millions to UCLA...and he's begrudged a backpack by this writer??

Can't say for sure if he's getting paid, but one must keep in mind that lots of folks who can't afford them are wearing $300 nikes. They just make cuts elsewhere (like in food for their kids).

Why should it be a surprise? You see college athletes everywhere driving pretty fancy cars and have other expensive items that their "uncles" bought for them, and it's known they come from dirt poor families. I would say about 90 percent of these schools are breaking tons of rules, and some have gotten caught, some not. Been that way for generations.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 01:55 PM ET  01.25 by doublejtrain68

Why should it be a surprise? You see college athletes everywhere driving pretty fancy cars and have other expensive items that their "uncles" bought for them, and it's known they come from dirt poor families. I would say about 90 percent of these schools are breaking tons of rules, and some have gotten caught, some not. Been that way for generations.

Forget the 90 percent. I would say just about none of these schools are squeaky clean. You would have to be a fool to think that some star players aren't getting a little something under the table.

Who cares if the kid is or isn't getting paid, won't be the first and certainly not the last. Some do it cleaner than others. Fact remains the kids are being exploited and then blamed for taking money. NCAA will be and has for the most part always been a complete joke, that is almost operated like a Mafia syndicate.

Trying to normalize or rationalize breaking rules is pure folly. This relativism leads to emotion based reasoning to justify any behavior, including aberrant actions . These kids are NOT being exploited. They are given educations at the finest institutions in the world, tutors, meals, lodging, travel to many areas of the country they may never had enjoyed, clothing, bowls/tournaments, small gifts (NCAA approved), training, coaching, exposure to groups of people generally off-limit to many non-athletes in the business community, exposure and visibility to professional coaches and teams. How you can think these are not of huge value proves you either didn't attend or probably didn't pay for college. There are many laws and rules I don't like, but that doesn't mean I can toss them aside and rationalize it. He was already punished for receiving impermissible benefits, so it is not outside of reason he is still doing so.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 04:50 PM ET  01.25 by Smilin Jay

Trying to normalize or rationalize breaking rules is pure folly. This relativism leads to emotion based reasoning to justify any behavior, including aberrant actions . These kids are NOT being exploited. They are given educations at the finest institutions in the world, tutors, meals, lodging, travel to many areas of the country they may never had enjoyed, clothing, bowls/tournaments, small gifts (NCAA approved), training, coaching, exposure to groups of people generally off-limit to many non-athletes in the business community, exposure and visibility to professional coaches and teams. How you can think these are not of huge value proves you either didn't attend or probably didn't pay for college. There are many laws and rules I don't like, but that doesn't mean I can toss them aside and rationalize it. He was already punished for receiving impermissible benefits, so it is not outside of reason he is still doing so.

Does a 90,000 dollar education begin to equate to the multi billion dollars that the institutions and the NCAA are garnering off the sweat and talents of these kids? I would certainly think not, some of the kids can barely afford transportation among other things that normally someone would be able to attain if they were instrumental to the wildly successful business that is college athletics. You are naive and very short sighted if you think anything other than exploitation is happening with these kids. The kids are doing all the work and then getting not even a 5% portion of the profit and benefits from it...Fair to you huh? And I played college athletics and let me tell you it is a full time job, we were only allowed to work certain hours and jobs to provide for ourselves. We were broke, while the stadium was sold out and our numbers on the jerseys were being distributed. College athletes can be likened to new age slightly better treated indentured servants. You my friend are pure folly....

Asia Muhammad wrote the following to Yahoo! Sports columnist Pat Forde:

"I read your condescending remark about [Shabazz] leaving with a Gucci backpack after beating Arizona. That was a birthday gift from myself (his sister) and his mother. I have the original receipt if you need to verify that. [Shabazz] doesn't need anything from anyone except his family. I understand you're a very distinguished writer, congrats on that. but you're barking up the wrong tree on this one."