US Department of Justice Reportedly Begins Inquiry of NCAA's Satellite Camp Ban

The NCAA may have created a formidable foe when it outlawed satellite camps on April 8.

According to USA Today's Paul Myerberg, the United States Department of Justice has opened an informal inquiry into the practice and the NCAA's decision to ban the events. The purpose of the inquiry is reportedly to look into whether the ban hurts high school athletes who are looking to increase their profile among college head coaches.

USA Today's Dan Wolken is already imaging the debate about satellite camps bleeding into the presidential campaign:

Earlier in the month, the SEC, ACC, Big 12, Pac-12, Sun Belt Conference and Mountain West Conference voted in favor of prohibiting coaches from running clinics away from facilities their teams use throughout the entire year.

Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh was the catalyst for the growth of satellite camps following his Summer Swarm tour in June 2015. In an interview with Sports Illustrated's Michael Rosenberg, Harbaugh laid into the powers that be, telling the reporter, "The incompetence of the NCAA has reared its ugly head yet again."

Harbaugh was also critical of what he believed was hastiness by the NCAA.

"I mean, what's it based on? A survey?" he said. "There wasn't a lot of discussion or study. What are the facts? What are the perils and merits of making that decision? It just seemed lacking in that regard."

Rosenberg then argued satellite camps are beneficial in terms of exposure:

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High school players learn from the best coaches in the sport. More importantly, for the price of one camp, they can get in front of several coaching staffs and potentially earn a scholarship. And even more important: Players get a taste of success. They get a little closer to their dreams.

If you have spent any time in impoverished neighborhoods, you know that the problems there go beyond finding food to eat and a roof to sleep under. People feel completely disconnected from their aspirations.

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CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd, on the other hand, thought the problem was being overblown:

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Proponents argued satellite camps provided "exposure." I'm sorry, did that Internet that Harbaugh so expertly hijacked suddenly go down? Phone service, too?

If you're good enough, you'll be found. There's 7 on 7, there are personal trainers. In a handful of states, high schools conduct spring practice.

Oh yeah, there are the regular, longstanding above-board scouting opportunities available to coaches. The term "official visit" seems to have been lost in the bluster.

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ESPN.com's Tom VanHaaren reported on April 19 that a number of coaches and athletic directors were working behind the scenes to overturn the 10-5 vote that ended satellite camps.

The DOJ's potential involvement could speed that process up quite a bit.