If you believe Andy Katz (and you probably should), it appears IU will withdraw its scholarship offer to Scott County's Bud Mackey no matter what happens on his Oct. 16 court date.
At this point, Mackey looks guilty in the court of public opinion, and he reportedly confessed to school officials that he planned on delivering the crack cocaine in his shoe to another person.
There's that high character shining through that many people have raved about.
If this whole Mackey ordeal has reminded IU faithful of anything, it's that future candy-striped basketball stars moonlight as naive teenagers that sometimes make bad decisions -- life-altering bad decisions. To me and most of Hoosier nation, Mackey only existed in Web posts and You Tube clips. He was another jewel in Kelvin Sampson's recruiting crown, the every-bright future of Indiana basketball. Now in less than a week that dream seems to have gone down the tube.
Mackey endeared himself to IU before ever officially becoming a Hoosier. The Kentucky kid flaunted his commitment to the Hoosiers in a state where even the grass shows state school pride. There's no question he had the persona of a big-time college athlete and the game to back it up. He still does. But that package won't be coming to Bloomington after last Friday.
Sampson and IU will recover from this ordeal relatively painlessly. Three top prep players of the 2009 class will reportedly be in attendance next week at Hoosier Hysteria including Dexter Strickland, Rivals.com's top-rated point guard. By next year, another hot dog will have taken Mackey's place.
After his hearing, Mackey's main concern should be graduating high school. The school district has not announced a decision on whether the 6'4'' guard will be expelled. He made a mistake, but he still has a promising future -- just not with the cream and crimson.
