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Report: Samuels received improper benefits from his AAU coach

NCAA Basketball Tournament - Southern Mississippi v Kansas State

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 15: Jamar Samuels #32 of the Kansas State Wildcats rebounds the ball against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the second round of the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Consol Energy Center on March 15, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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It looks like we now have some insight as to why Jamar Samuels was suspended.

Speaking to Austin Meek, a writer for the Topeka Capital-Journal, Samuels’ AAU coach Curtis Malone, who runs powerhouse program DC Assault, said that he was the reason Samuels was suspended and it was because he gave the senior some money.

“There hasn’t been anything extravagant or large lumps,” Malone said. “I don’t just give a kid money. It’s the same way when he played with DC Assault on road trips. When he didn’t have money to eat, he ate.”

Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com confirmed that it was a $200 wire transfer from Malone to Samuels. Malone said he was unaware of the rule.

“If I wanted to hide it, I would have done it differently,” he said. “He needed money to eat.”

Malone doesn’t believe that was he did was an impermissible benefit as he has a prior relationship with Samuels and his mother from their AAU days. Martin, who nearly broke down into tears after the game, went on record as saying that he didn’t believe that Samuels committed a violation.

Last October, Malone was in the news because another former player Michael Beasley had filed a lawsuit against him. Beasley claimed that Malone had conspired with agent Joel Bell to steer the player to Bell in exchange for bankrolling Malone’s AAU team.

I feel awful for Samuels. He was a senior. This was his final college basketball game ever. That hurts.

Rob Dauster is the editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @robdauster.