A request for referral of the NCAA infractions case involving N.C. State to the Independent Accountability Resolution Process was granted by the Infractions Referral Committee, it was announced Monday.
No further details about the matter and alleged violation involving former Wolfpack basketball player Dennis Smith Jr. will be released until the panel releases its final decision, the NCAA said.
N.C. State was given the official Notice of Allegations by the NCAA in July 2019 _ the program, then coached by Mark Gottfried, was charged with two Level I violations involving Smith _ and responded to the notice in December.
After the NCAA again responded to NCSU in February, it was believed the case could go before the NCAA Committee on Infractions this year. But the coronavirus crisis has temporarily suspended most NCAA activities.
N.C. State was notified April 3 that the case had been recommended to the Independent Accountability Resolution Process. The university accepted the recommendation April 8.
"We've stated throughout this process that NC State will accept accountability for any shortcomings and defend ourselves aggressively where we feel it is appropriate and necessary to do so," NCSU chancellor Randy Woodson said in a statement April 8. "As our response to the Referral Petition demonstrates, we do not think NC State can receive an objective or fair hearing before the Committee on Infractions in this matter. We believe the only remaining option is that our case be moved to the Independent Accountability Resolution Process."
The IARP was created in August 2019, setting up a panel of independent investigators to review complex NCAA Division I infractions cases. It came after recommendations from the Commission on College Basketball, chaired by former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
N.C. State was one of several high-profile college basketball programs tied to the FBI's investigation into fraud and corruption in college basketball, which led to the creation of the Rice Commission.
The 15-member Independent Review Panel is charged with analyzing the allegations and the school's response to the allegations, then deciding on penalties. Decisions of the panel are final and and not subject to appeal.
The University of Memphis was the first NCAA school referred to the IARP, but the NCAA did not announce the allegations that were being reviewed.
