NCAA President Mark Emmert Says Paying Players Is Not an Option Amid FBI Probe

NCAA President Mark Emmert doesn't believe that schools will start paying student-athletes following an FBI probe into corruption throughout college basketball.

Speaking to the Ralph D. Russo of the Associated Press on Friday, Emmert noted no schools have told him a pay-for-play scenario is necessary in college sports:

"I haven't heard any universities say that they want to change amateurism to move into a model where student-athletes are paid by universities and universities are negotiating with agents for their relationships with a school. I would be surprised if the commission came forward with that kind of recommendation.''

The commission was formed by the NCAA last October to examine the organization's rules on relationships between players and agents and college basketball's relationship to the NBA's one-and-done rule.

One thing Emmert did seem open to was an Olympic-style rule that would allow student-athletes to potentially earn money through endorsement deals. 

"There's a lot of discussion about the Olympic model and think it's well-deserving of serious consideration inside the context of college sports," he said.

The FBI arrested and charged 10 people last September in connection with a fraud and corruption scheme in college basketball. Coaches allegedly received payouts and benefits for directing NBA prospects toward specific agents and apparel companies. 

Per Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde and Pete Thamel, documents and bank records in the FBI's case indicate at least 20 Division I basketball programs and at least 25 current and former players could be in violation of NCAA rules for receiving impermissible benefits. 

Per Russo, the commission could offer its recommendations to the NCAA during the Division I Board of Directors meetings on April 24 and 25.