Rose, a rising star for the Chicago Bulls and the NBA's rookie of the year this season, is the second one-year college player who left a scandal at his school -- in this case allegations of academic fraud -- on his way to the NBA since the league began requiring in 2006 that Americans be at least 19 and a year out of high school to enter the draft.

Allegations that former Southern California star O.J. Mayo violated amateurism rules by accepting gifts and cash from an agent's associate rocked college Basketball last year. Mayo now plays for the Memphis Grizzlies.

The NBA's age minimum, part of the 2005 collective bargaining agreement, was hailed by league executives who wanted more polished players after a 10-year period in which top high school players bypassed college. The NCAA had no say in the matter, but association President Myles Brand says he favors it because it encourages high schoolers to buckle down on academics to prepare for college.

Yet a growing number of colleges find themselves in binds to varying degrees, usually after players depart for the NBA .

Ohio State was hit with an academic setback that led to a reduction of scholarships after "one-and-done" players Greg Oden in 2007 and Kosta Koufos last year departed for the NBA and failed to complete third-quarter course work.

Memphis, USC and Connecticut could face far more serious penalties if the NCAA finds they had major rules violations. Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun has said he and his staff might have made mistakes in the recruitment of Nate Miles, once thought to have one-and-done potential. Miles never played at UConn because he was expelled amid allegations by a female student who said he assaulted her. The state did not pursue charges.

Calhoun's admission came after Yahoo Sports reported in March that during Miles' recruitment his traveling expenses were covered by agent Josh Nochimson, a former UConn manager. A Connecticut assistant knew of Nochimson's dealings with the player, according to the report.

Miles transferred to the College of Southern Idaho, a junior college, and has entered the draft, although his stock has dropped significantly. Connecticut team spokesman Kyle Muncy says the school is working with the NCAA to review information.

Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., has a solution. He sent a letter to the NBA and its players association calling for them to repeal the age minimum in the next labor agreement, saying it robs players of their right to earn a living. Labor talks are set to begin this summer.

"Private entities can't say you can't play because of your religion or your race," Cohen says. "Age discrimination is a factor as well."

He notes the NFL and NBA have the toughest age requirements and both are made up largely of African-American players. "Something doesn't compute there," he says.

Responding to Cohen's comments, NBA Commissioner David Stern said Thursday that players have many options after high school: college, junior college, opportunities in Europe and the NBA Development League.

"This is not about the NCAA," Stern said. "This is not an enforcement of some social program. This is a business decision by the NBA . We like to see our players in competition after high school."

Cohen also expresses concern that because college is being used by some as a pit stop on the road to the NBA , true student-athletes who intend to earn degrees are paying the price.

In response to NCAA administrators and coaches who have said there is value in the growth a player experiences by going to college even for a year, Cohen offers a reality check: "Then why don't we do it for everybody and not allow our soldiers to go to war unless they've been on a college campus for a year?"

The congressman acknowledged that he was spurred to address the age issue in part by the controversy engulfing Memphis, which could have to vacate its 38-2 season and NCAA runner-up finish in 2007-08. Cohen attended law school at Memphis, and the university is in his district.

The name of the Memphis player accused of cheating is blacked out in reports exchanged by the NCAA and the school, but Rose is the only one who fits the description in allegations that a stand-in took the SAT for a one-year player to gain admission.

In a report of their findings, Memphis officials say they found no proof the player cheated and weren't made aware until after the 2007-08 season that the Educational Testing Service invalidated the SAT score. School officials will make their case to the NCAA infractions committee Saturday, with former coach John Calipari, now at Kentucky, participating by phone from China. Calipari was informed by the NCAA that he is not considered at risk in the proceedings.

Visited at his suburban Chicago home last week and asked if the allegations were true, Rose said he couldn't comment.

Targeting high schoolers

Mayo has denied allegations that he accepted cash and gifts from Rodney Guillory, who is alleged to be a runner for BDA Sports Management. In a recent interview with Yahoo Sports, a former Mayo associate, Louis Johnson, said USC coach Tim Floyd gave Guillory a payment of $1,000 in February 2007, raising questions about another potential major violation.

Agents and runners for years have infiltrated the amateur ranks. They increasingly have targeted NBA -caliber players before they finish high school to foster relationships. It is common for players to view runners as advisers and tune out their coaches.

"The hard part is when people have the ability to get to the players and their families during the season," Ohio State coach Thad Matta says. "There's nothing we can do about it."

Matta has had five players enter the NBA draft as freshmen since 2006. All were first-round picks. In 2007, Oden, a 7-0 center, was taken No. 1 overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. He was joined as a first-round pick by fellow freshmen Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook, all of who helped Ohio State reach the NCAA title game.

All were in good academic standing, Ohio State faculty athletics representative John Bruno says, but Oden faltered by failing to complete the school's third-quarter term. After then-freshman Koufos declared for the NBA draft last spring, he made the same mistake, Bruno confirmed.

Consequently, the team's Academic Progress Rate (APR), which is tracked by the NCAA, slipped, and the team must forfeit two scholarships.

Bruno, a professor of psychology and neuroscience, found himself torn a few months ago as he counseled freshman B.J. Mullens to refrain from enrolling in the third quarter once Mullens decided to enter the draft. Bruno didn't want the school to take another APR hit. "The academic in me feels very conflicted," Bruno says. But the advice, he adds, "is totally defensible and sensible."

As long as potential one-and-done recruits are in good standing with academics and conduct, Bruno thinks Matta should recruit them. "The coach is expected to win," Bruno says. "Is he supposed to not recruit the next Greg Oden because after one year he may be gone? I'm a professor, and I can't say he shouldn't."

The National Association of Basketball Coaches has lobbied the NBA to allow players to be drafted out of high school but force those who go to college to stay three years. That proposal is modeled after the rules for entry into Major League Baseball's draft.

That idea hasn't gained traction.

"We will keep pushing," says Rick Leddy, NABC director of public relations.

Stern has hinted he wants to raise the minimum age to 20. A familiar refrain among coaches and NCAA administrators is that two years are better than one or none.

Red flags for Sidney

One of next season's anticipated one-and-dones already is under scrutiny.

Renardo Sidney, a 6-10 senior from Fairfax High in Los Angeles, is bound for Mississippi State after announcing in February he would attend USC.

His attorney, Montgomery, Ala.-based Don Jackson, says Sidney, who grew up in Mississippi before moving to Los Angeles, changed his mind about USC because he wanted to return to his home state. The Los Angeles Times painted a different picture in a May article. Citing anonymous sources, the Times said USC withdrew its offer, and so did UCLA, because of concerns over his family's finances.

The NCAA has inquired with Mississippi State about Sidney's amateur status, say Jackson and Bracky Brett, Mississippi State associate athletics director for compliance. Jackson said such an inquiry is routine but has declined to turn over bank statements.

"We don't think they have a legal basis to make that request," he says.

Asked whether the Times article raised red flags, Brett says, "Everything that you've read or heard are things that have to be of concern. That's why we've said we're doing due diligence and will look for answers to any questions anybody has before we move forward."

Contributing: David Leon Moore in Los Angeles, Jack Carey