Recruit's trip financed

IU trustee Stephen Ferguson accompanied former IU basketball recruit Sean May and his father to Lubbock, Texas, to visit Bob Knight last weekend, using a jet Ferguson provided, Ferguson said. The plane is owned by Cook Group, Inc., where Ferguson is executive vice president.\nState Budget Director Betty Cockrum and her son also accompanied them on the trip.\nBefore going to Lubbock, May said his top three prospects were the University of Louisville, IU and North Carolina. When he returned he announced his intention to attend North Carolina. His brother, freshman Scott May Jr., is a walk-on on the IU basketball team this year. Their father, Scott May Sr., was an IU standout in the the mid-1970s. \nFerguson said the trip was a chance to visit Knight and see his new home.\nBut since Ferguson has done legal work for Knight in the past, some have questioned whether Ferguson's trip with May to visit Knight was purely friendly or a strike at the University in retaliation for Knight's firing last spring. \nFerguson said the trip did not violate NCAA rules and said he did not take the trip as revenge against IU President Myles Brand for the firing of Knight. \nThe idea that he was out for revenge is "the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard," Ferguson said. \n"I'd rather see Sean May play here," he said. "That's not punishment on Myles Brand, that's more punishment on me."\nJane Jankowski, a spokeswoman for the NCAA, told The Associated Press it is too early to speculate on any wrongdoing.\n"Sometimes you hear information about something that may on its face sound like there's a problem, and then once you know what the complete story is, there's not," Jankowski said.\nIt is the responsibility of the respective institutions to look into such situations and determine the facts, Jankowski said.\nFerguson was acting to help the May family, said Bill Stephan, IU interim vice president for public affairs and government relations.\n"Steve Ferguson has a long-standing relationship with the May family, and he also has a long-standing commitment to IU."\nIU trustee Sue Talbot also defended Ferguson.\n"I have a great deal of respect for Steve, and he wouldn't do anything unethical in any way," she said.\nIU athletic department spokesman Jeff Fanter said the IU's athletics department had no comment. \nThe Associated Press contributed to this story.