University of Arizona: no coaches, staff involved in Kerr Kriisa's NCAA benefits violation

Twenty-four hours after West Virginia announced a nine-game suspension for former Wildcat guard Kerr Kriisa over taking impermissible benefits “while enrolled at Arizona,” UA said none of its staff or coaches were involved.

In a statement released Wednesday morning, Arizona said it worked collaboratively with West Virginia and the NCAA in a review of the matter and that the review confirmed no UA staff and coaches were involved.

“As part of their evaluation, the NCAA determined that the University of Arizona’s compliance systems and education met or exceeded their standards and national best practices,” UA’s statement said. “The University of Arizona received no penalties or corrective actions as a result of the NCAA’s evaluation.”

The NCAA declined to comment but normally does only in major (Level I or Level II) infractions cases.

UA is still in the first year of a three-year probation related to an NCAA infractions case that stemmed from the FBI’s investigation into college basketball. The Independent Accountability Resolution process ruled on the case in December 2022, giving UA probation and a fine of about $135,000 but no postseason ban on top of the one the school self-imposed in 2020-21.

Neither West Virginia nor Arizona said when the Kriisa infraction occurred, or if an outside interest was involved, but their statements leave open the possibility the benefits were gained despite school and staff safeguards to protect against NCAA rule violations.

UA said it would have no further comment other than its statement, as did a West Virginia spokesman. In its statement, West Virginia said it learned of a potential eligibility concern about Kriisa in August, though it did not say when the issue occurred nor whether it involved boosters or staff at Arizona, West Virginia or another school.

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“West Virginia worked cooperatively with the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Staff to reach an appropriate resolution,” West Virginia’s statement said. “He accepts responsibility for his actions at Arizona and looks forward to joining his Mountaineer teammates on the floor.”

While the NCAA began allowing athletes to receive compensation from outside interests under name, image and likeness rules in July 2021, NIL money is not allowed to be used as a recruiting inducement and schools still face restrictions in what they can offer athletes.

As an international athlete, Kriisa is only allowed to take NIL income if it is ruled “passive” and not as part of a job, or if he works outside of the country. But that rule is a U.S. government rule, not an NCAA restriction.

A senior from Estonia who was recruited largely via Zoom during the pandemic by the staff of former coach Sean Miller, Kriisa arrived at Arizona in the fall of 2020 and played three seasons for the Wildcats before transferring to West Virginia after last season.

Kriisa sat out the first 17 games of the 2020-21 season because of an NCAA suspension over a pro contract he had signed in Estonia. While sitting out, he returned briefly in November 2020 to play a Eurobasket qualifying game for his country.

Kriisa played eight games toward the end of the 2020-21 season for the Wildcats and then, after Miller was fired in April 2021, entered his name in the transfer portal. But he returned and played the past two seasons under Tommy Lloyd, who was hired to replace Miller.