Geno Auriemma has had so much success at UConn that recruits sometimes come to him, and do so publicly, but reciprocating can only lead him into trouble like it did with Mo'Ne Davis.

According to the Hartford Courant, the NCAA ruled that Auriemma's call to Davis was a recruiting violation, though the UConn women's basketball coach has maintained he received clearance from the school. Auriemma is likely to get a written reprimand and a mandatory rules review, but will probably not receive further penalty.

While playing in the Little League World Series (LLWS), Davis said she wanted to one day play point guard for Auriemma at UConn. If her teammates are right about her basketball prowess, she will well be able to after high school, but Davis is only going into the eighth grade. Auriemma said UConn administrators said calling her would be okay since the NCAA defines prospective student-athletes as kids going into the ninth grade (entering high school).

"The nature of Coach Auriemma's two-minute conversation with Mo'ne had nothing to do with recruiting and instead had everything to do with congratulating and encouraging Mo'ne to continued success," UConn athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement to the Courant.

An unnamed American Athletic Conference official reportedly alerted the NCAA of Auriemma's call to Davis. Manuel did not try to hide his displeasure with the NCAA ruling the call a violation.

"Prior to attempting to reach Davis, Coach Auriemma checked with the UConn compliance department and was advised such a call would be permissible since Davis is not considered a prospective student-athlete by the NCAA and the call was to be congratulatory rather than recruiting in nature," he said. "While UConn will continue to adhere to the NCAA and conference rules, I believe that upon request from a friend to Geno, a proud Philadelphian, to call a young lady representing the City of Brotherly Love who had accomplished historic feats in the Little League World Series, should not constitute a violation especially due to the fact that NCAA rules do not classify Mo'Ne as a prospective student-athlete."

Davis has been open about her appreciation for UConn, wearing her Huskies hoodie to meet L.A. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, to a Philadelphia 76ers game and during the LLWS. Auriemma said he has not so much as spoken to people who have seen Davis play basketball and he recently told reporters he was not happy the complaint was even filed, the Associated Press reported.

"It shows you what is wrong not only for things that go on but also with some of the people that I coach against," he said. "There's guys playing college basketball driving around in cars that cost more than my house and we're worried about a phone call that I made?"

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