Teams Should Heed NCAA's Warning About Top Recruit Shabazz Muhammed

Prized high school basketball recruit Shabazz Muhammed might not be so prized after all.

That's what happens when the NCAA issues a warning, in regards to the player's eligibility, to teams recruiting the player.

Jeff Goodman and Gary Parrish of CBS Sports passed along this information: 

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The NCAA has contacted each school recruiting the nation's top-ranked high school basketball prospect, Shabazz Muhammad, and made them aware of financial dealings that could compromise Muhammad's amateur status, multiple sources have told CBSSports.com.

Sources told CBSSports.com Lincoln paid for at least two of Muhammad's unofficial visits to college campuses and that Kavanagh has helped fund Muhammad's summer team, the Las Vegas-based Dream Vision Foundation. Holmes, who has hired legal counsel to assist with getting the NCAA inquiry resolved, confirmed both statements as true to CBSSports.com.

Reached by phone, Lincoln told CBSSports.com that he did indeed fund at least two of Muhammad's unofficial visits but insisted he believes his involvement is within NCAA rules.

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The Lincoln referred to above is Benjamin Lincoln, who was a family and financial adviser to the family. 

This is certainly not something teams should turn a blind eye to. The NCAA is not in the habit of issuing warnings, unless they have a very good reason to do so. 

Muhammad is a dynamic 6'6" wing man, with all the skills to dominate. Scout.com gives him a 98 rating, and lists him as the nation's No. 2 recruit. 

Goodman and Parrish reported that Muhammad is considering UCLA, Kansas, Kentucky, UNLV, Duke and USC.

After this news, those schools would be wise to stop considering him.