Rex Chapman admits being offered money during Kentucky recruitment

Former Kentucky basketball star Rex Chapman says he received an offer of $500,000 during his recruitment process coming out of high school.

Add Rex Chapman to the long list of former college athletes who were offered money during their recruiting process.

The former Kentucky basketball guard appeared on the Dan Patrick Show and described the offer of $500,000 his family received as he was coming out of high school.

“I would say just a flat $500,000 in escrow that I’d get when I get out,” Chapman said. “Think about that. That’s insane.”

Chapman was one of the nation’s best high school players in 1986. He was named Kentucky’s Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball for the state.

Naturally, the Wildcats were hot on his tail in the recruiting process and they landed his signature.

Former Kentucky star Rex Chapman says he got a big cash offer in recruiting

Chapman declined to specify where the massive offer came from, whether one of the numerous other universities pursuing his services or Kentucky. He said the offer was made through his parents and coaches.

The anecdote highlights the trouble the NCAA has with amateurism and the debate over paying players. Many players are already being enticed with under-the-table cash offers.

Chapman weighed in on that topic as well.

“The argument I hear from people who have been anti-paying-players-in-college forever is ‘well, I don’t want an athlete driving around in an Escalade on campus.’ Really? Is that what you have a problem with? You don’t seem to have a problem with Buffy and Mark over in the fraternity and sorority driving their dad’s Escalade or their Mercedes. These are at least the guys who earned this money with something they did.”

For more NCAA basketball news, analysis, opinion and features, check out more from the FanSided college basketball section to stay on top of the latest action.