I'm loving this.

BY MICHAEL O'BRIEN mobrien@suntimes.com

The University of Kentucky on Thursday denied a Chicago Sun-Times report that a $200,000 deal was made to get a top Chicago high school basketball player to attend the school, according to a law firm representing the university.

Sources told the Sun-Times the father of 6-10 Anthony Davis, a highly recruited senior basketball player, negotiated a deal that promised $200,000 from someone who wanted Davis to commit to Kentucky.

The university ''disputes the accuracy of your proposed statements,'' according to a letter from the law firm, which was sent by e-mail Thursday to the Sun-Times.

Anthony Davis Sr., the father of the 17-year-old player, also has flatly denied the allegations.

''We haven't asked anyone for anything, and no one has offered us anything,'' Davis Sr. said last week at a club basketball event in Merrillville, Ind.

Another source told the Sun-Times that the NCAA is ''checking'' into the recruitment of Davis.

''The University of Kentucky has spoken with Mr. David Price, NCAA vice president of enforcement,'' according to the letter to the Sun-Times, which was written by Kevin G. Henry of the Lexington, Ky., law firm Sturgill, Turner, Barker and Moloney, PLLC. ''He advised that whatever inquiry you received from an NCAA person was merely asking you for information about your sources for your article, and that this is not confirmation of an 'investigation' of the University of Kentucky or an examination of the recruitment of the named student-athlete by the NCAA.''

When the original story detailing the discussions and the $200,000 agreement was posted online Wednesday, the university posted a letter on its own website from its law firm asking the Sun-Times to withdraw publication of the story.

''Please be advised that the article is false and defamatory and could lead to legal action,'' stated the letter, which was signed by attorney Stephen L. Barker.

Sources from three separate universities told the Sun-Times that Davis Sr. asked for money in return for his son's commitment, with the amounts ranging from $125,000 to $150,000.

When reached Thursday, Davis Sr. declined to respond further, saying: ''Thanks for ruining my son. Thank you very much.''

Georgette L. Greenlee, an attorney representing Davis Sr. and his wife, Erainer Eberhardt-Davis, also denied the original Sun-Times story.

''Mr. Davis has not asked any university or college for any commitment fee for his son, nor has anything been offered to him or Mrs. Davis,'' Greenlee wrote Thursday.

Davis plays for Perspectives MSA -- a co-op team with players from Perspectives Joslin and Perspectives MSA -- in the Public League Blue-West, a conference that receives almost no attention from media or college scouts. Perspectives Joslin, the school Davis attends, is located at 1930 S. Archer.

Rumors that Davis' commitment is for sale through his father have surfaced since he cut his list of schools to Kentucky, Ohio State and Syracuse. Last week he added DePaul to that group, visiting the Lincoln Park campus Monday. On Tuesday, Davis Sr. told media outlets that a decision had been made, but no timetable was given for an announcement. Sources have told the Sun-Times that Kentucky was Davis' choice.

Davis was 6 feet tall at the end of his sophomore season but grew to 6-10 before his senior season. Perspectives MSA was 8-15 last season, despite strong play from Davis.

In April, Davis joined the club team Meanstreets, founded and coached by former Thornton star and NFL wide receiver Tai Streets. After playing nationally with Meanstreets this spring and summer, Davis became one of the hottest recruits in the nation.

Davis and his father visited Kentucky on Sunday.

''We spoke with the president of the school, looked at the living quarters where Anthony would be staying and saw some film on some improvements they are making within the basketball program,'' Davis Sr. told ChicagoHoops.com.

''We also met the entire coaching staff, from coach Cal [John Calipari] to the weight trainer.''

Calipari has had trouble with the NCAA before.

• On Aug. 20, 2009, the NCAA ruled that Simeon grad Derrick Rose was ineligible to play for Calipari's Memphis team in 2007-08. Memphis was forced to vacate the entire 2007-08 season, including its runner-up finish in the NCAA tournament.

• Calipari took Massachusetts to the Final Four in 1986, but that appearance also was vacated after an NCAA investigation determined that Minutemen star Marcus Camby took $28,000 from two sports agents.

• In May, the New York Times reported that the NCAA was investigating the ''academic makeover and extra benefits'' former Kentucky guard Eric Bledsoe received while in high school in Alabama. According to the Times, the NCAA sent investigators to at least three places in Alabama to ask about Bledsoe.

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Calipari should be permanently banned from the NCAA if they can prove this.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!