Queens Coach Accuses SEC Assistant of Recruiting Player at Conference Tournament

Queens basketball head coach calls out SEC assistant for trying to poach his players during the ASUN conference tournament.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 6:19pm

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The head coach of the Queens basketball team, Grant Leonard, took to social media to accuse an SEC assistant coach of trying to recruit one of his players during the ASUN conference tournament. Leonard said the SEC assistant bought a courtside seat to get an up-close look at his team and players, which he viewed as an attempt to get a head start on recruiting for next season.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the intense competition and recruiting battles that take place in college basketball, even during the postseason conference tournaments. Coaches are always looking to gain an edge in recruiting top talent, and some may cross ethical lines in their pursuit of players. This accusation could lead to further scrutiny of recruiting practices in the NCAA.

The details

Queens basketball just punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament by winning the ASUN conference tournament. After the game, head coach Grant Leonard took to social media to call out an SEC assistant coach who he said bought a courtside seat to the tournament game in order to recruit one of Leonard's players for next season. Leonard did not name the specific SEC school, but the ASUN tournament was held in Jacksonville, Florida, which is in the heart of SEC country. The accusation comes after USF head coach Bryan Hodgson also spoke out about other teams trying to poach his players before the season ends.

  • The ASUN conference tournament was held on March 11, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida.

The players

Grant Leonard

The head coach of the Queens basketball team, which just punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament by winning the ASUN conference tournament.

Bryan Hodgson

The head coach of the USF basketball team, which won the American Conference regular season title and will be the number one seed in their conference tournament.

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What they’re saying

“We had an SEC assistant buy a courtside seat for one of our conference tournament games to 'get ahead' of recruiting on of my kids.”

— Grant Leonard, Head Coach, Queens Basketball

“Any of these clowns that think they're gonna reach out to my guys before the season ends and start sending the DMs, and having third-party (contact), I will find you. I'm not like the rest of these college basketball coaches. We will have a face-to-face conversation, I can promise you that.”

— Bryan Hodgson, Head Coach, USF Basketball

What’s next

The NCAA is likely to investigate this incident to determine if any recruiting rules were violated by the SEC assistant coach. The outcome could impact the player's eligibility and the SEC school's recruiting efforts.

The takeaway

This case highlights the intense competition and questionable tactics used in college basketball recruiting. It raises concerns about ethical boundaries and the need for stronger NCAA enforcement to prevent improper recruiting practices, especially during the high-stakes postseason tournaments.