Cliff Alexander Facing Impermissible Benefits Inquiry: Latest Details, Reaction

Cliff Alexander missed Kansas' Feb. 28 contest vs. Texas due to eligibility concerns, and it appears this might just have been the tip of the iceberg as Alexander's mother has reportedly been tied to a financial firm specializing in loans for professional athletes and agents.

Continue for updates.

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Alexander's Mother Tied to Financial Firm

Saturday, March 7

Pat Forde and Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported that "a Uniform Commercial Code filed in August 2014 ties the mother of suspended Kansas basketball player Cliff Alexander to a finance company that, according to its website, specializes in loans to professional athletes and agents, Yahoo Sports has learned."

The report also noted that loans based on future earning potential for college athletes can be a violation of NCAA rules.

Forde first reported on March 5 that Alexander "remains sidelined because of an NCAA inquiry into possible impermissible benefits received by one or more of his family members from an NBA agent, multiple sources have told Yahoo Sports."

Forde also added that Alexander has not yet been interviewed by the NCAA and that he will not be reinstated until the interview occurs. Alexander's eligibility for the remainder of the season could be impacted if a violation is found.

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Alexander's Attorney Addresses Eligibility Inquiry

Sunday, March 1

Brian Hamilton of SI.com provided comments from Alexander's attorney, Arthur McAfee, regarding the player's eligibility issue:

"

I can’t handicap it for you, it wouldn’t be fair to either side to do so. Our goal is to make sure there is clarity with whatever issue [the NCAA] may have. We’re always confident that whatever information [it is] looking for is in favor of Cliff. These things take time to develop. [It has] procedures [it] must follow, and I think there’s an attempt to do it fairly quickly. We will see here in short order, I hope.

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McAfee also talked about a potential timeline for a resolution but couldn't provide any more information:

"

I would assume that [the NCAA] understands the pressures of the current basketball season, and I’m sure [it] will try to do [its] job in a thorough fashion, to cause the least amount of harm to Cliff and the university. [...]

Those things become narrower as [the NCAA] works through the information [it] may have. We will know those things in short order.

"

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Alexander Out vs. Texas Due to Eligibility Issue

Saturday, Feb. 28

The University Daily Kansan on Twitter provided a snapshot of the school's press release announcing the news of Alexander's eligibility issue: 

Bill Self commented on Alexander's status after the Jayhawks' win over Texas Saturday, per Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World:

The 5-star recruit hasn't made the kind of impact many were anticipating this season, averaging 7.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 17.6 minutes per contest. He has logged just 27 minutes in the last three games, causing ESPN's Jeff Goodman to argue that this isn't a major blow for the Jayhawks: 

"

The loss of Cliff Alexander would have been regarded as critical for Kansas at one point in time. Not the case now. Replaceable.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) February 28, 2015"

Still, although he may still be raw, Alexander is Kansas' most talented big man. He is second on the team in true shooting percentage (.598) and first among qualified players in rebounding percentage (16.8), per Sports-Reference. The lack of minutes has been perplexing. 

As long as Alexander remains sidelined, Perry Ellis, Jamari Taylor and Landen Lucas will handle the minutes down low for Self's squad, which will have to deal with Texas' huge front line Saturday as it moves toward an 11th consecutive Big 12 regular-season title.