South Carolina basketball is not part of the FBI’s NCAA bribery probe

The FBI investigation that has put college basketball on its head will not affect the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Gamecocks issued a statement on Friday afternoon stating that they would not be targeted by federal investigators.

The full statement from South Carolina can be viewed here:

"The University of South Carolina been made aware that it is not the target of the Department of Justice investigation and we have received no information to indicate that any current or former member of the USC staff is involved in the federal investigation, other than the previously identified former assistant coach, Lamont Evans."

There had been speculation that SC would be in the crosshairs of the investigation. That speculation was spurred due in large to the aforementioned Lamont Evans. Evans had been on Frank Martin’s staff from 2012-16. He worked as an assistant coach before taking the same position for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Evans was recently fired from his position with OSU after having a criminal complaint filed toward him in the FBI probe.

This is certainly good news for the South Carolina program. While other programs in the SEC are under watch, namely the Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide, we now know of one that is, for certain, not going to come under fire. The Gamecocks will be preserved going forward. Now, we’ll see if the rest of the SEC will come on the radar.