Hakeem Nicks, a rising star at receiver in his second year with the Giants, has been identified by his former school, the University of North Carolina, for giving improper gifts, payments or assistance to Tar Heels football players.
The school, under investigation by the NCAA for improper benefits given to players by agents, has agreed to conduct its own investigation. In a press release issued by North Carolina, a “fact-finding part of the review” uncovered alleged improper benefits given out by Nicks totaling $3,300. Two other former Tar Heels players, Mahlon Carey ($140) and Omar Brown ($1,865) also were named in the release as giving improper benefits.
The school described the improper benefits as “impermissible gifts of cash and jewelry and impermissible assistance with lodging, travel, transportation and entertainment expenses.”
The release stated Nicks and the other former players “thought they were helping out friends and fellow Tar Heels” and went on to say “there is no evidence that links them to inappropriate relationships with agents, prospective agents or runners.”