Baton Rouge -
LSU has docked itself two scholarships in the upcoming recruiting class and two scholarships overall for the 2011-12 school year as part of the self-imposed restrictions for
recruiting violations uncovered in 2009, the school said Thursday.
LSU will also restrict recruiting visits for the 2010-11 academic year for the violations surrounding former LSU signee Akiem Hicks and former assistant coach D. J. McCarthy, who recruited him. The school did not identify either person but sources have confirmed McCarthy and Hicks were the ones involved.
The internal investigation centered around the recruitment and transfer of Hicks, a defensive tackle, from Sacramento City (Calif.) Community College and also involved improper phone contact, transportation and housing issues between coaching and non-coaching administrative football staff members, and the parents and high school coaches of prospective recruits.
LSU self-reported the violations involving Hicks and McCarthy in a 53-page report to the SEC and the NCAA in March 2010 while other improper phone call violations were later discovered and reported in October of 2010.
LSU football coach Les Miles was not immediately available for comment.
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