ATLANTA -- Georgia Tech basketball players Tadric Johnson and Josh Okogie will each miss games, in accordance with a reinstatement decision issued by the NCAA after Georgia Tech self-reported NCAA violations.
Johnson, a senior, will miss three games. Okogie will miss six games, beginning with last Saturday's season-opener versus UCLA in Shanghai, China.
Georgia Tech self-reported violations after an internal investigation found Jackson and Okogie received benefits, including apparel, meals and transportation, from an individual not associated with the university. The estimated cost of the benefits came out to be about $1,200 between them both.
According to a release, the student athletes received benefits beginning in November 2016 and ending in May 2017. Yellow Jackets Head Coach Josh Pastner was made aware of possible violations in October and reported them to Georgia Tech's compliance office.
However, since then, a report from CBS Sports alleges that the outside individual giving benefits was Ron Bell, a former friend of Pastner's and now whistle blower, and did so under Pastner's instruction.
Bell is a former coach who has had issues in the past with drug abuse and has been to prison for violating a probation from a previous arrest. Bell's Facebook photos show he had close access to the program.
Georgia Tech does not comment on allegations of rules violations. Any allegations of NCAA violations are sent to the compliance office and NCAA if necessary.
The Yellow Jackets are 0-1 this season.
Jackson will be eligible to return to game action when Georgia Tech hosts North Texas on Friday, Nov. 24 and Okogie can make his 2017-18 debut on Sunday, Dec. 3 when the Yellow Jackets host Tennessee.
