BYU penalized for role in Nick Emery case

PROVO — A detailed review into an “extra-benefits” scandal at BYU has resulted in the NCAA vacating all of the university’s wins in which a current guard played in the past two years, plus recruiting restrictions through November 2020.

An investigation found four BYU boosters provided Nick Emery, the guard in question, with more than $12,000 in extra benefits, ranging from free rounds of golf to even vacations and cash.

Emery is suspended for the first nine games of this season as part of a previous decision related to the probe.

BYU had offered some self-imposed penalties, but the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions felt more were needed. Their decision forces BYU to vacate the 47 wins in which Emery played a part over the last two seasons in addition to the recruiting restrictions and a two-year probationary period.

Emery left school prior to the 2017-18 season after playing as a freshman and sophomore but was reinstated to the university and basketball program in June.

BYU men’s basketball spokesman Kyle Chilton issued a statement indicating the school plans to appeal the NCAA’s penalty, taking particular issue with the vacation of wins.

“For more than two decades, the NCAA has not required an institution to vacate games in similar cases where the COI found there was no institutional knowledge of or involvement in the violation by either the coaching staff or other university personnel,” the statement reads.

“In fact, this sanction includes the most severe vacation-of-record penalty ever imposed in the history of NCAA Division I basketball for infractions that included no institutional knowledge or involvement.”

The full statement is available on BYUCougars.com.

Follow @KSLbbruce