As an All-American athlete in two different sports, I have strong feelings on any suggestion to do any "gray area" recruiting for any reason. Institutions of higher learning have absolutely, unequivocally, no charge to teach young athletes that cheating is OK. The idea is a complete non-starter. I am not a U of I alum, but though living in another state for decades, I am an Illinois taxpayer and have been a U of I basketball fanatic for 65 years. But I want to see it done without cheating. I am also quite ashamed that my alma mater has allowed their current coach to circumvent running a clean program. There is no good reason....categorically none....to cheat in running collegiate athletic programs.
What I personally suggest, is that any program caught cheating or in intentional rules violations be suspended for a period of three years while allowing athletes to maintain scholarships, if they choose, but not competing (another version of a fine for the school). More importantly, as in football and baseball, basketball players become ineligible for the NBA draft for a period of 3 years when signing a letter of intent. I don't care if Zion Williamson plays one farce season at Duke. The one and dones have no business engaging in the charade of collegiate athletics. Kids who do choose to spend three years getting and education will graduate at a higher rate and still compete on national TV for championships in front of sellout crowds. The one and dones, for me, add NOTHING to the collegiate game.
I certainly do not expect this to happen as it requires coaches and administrators who are getting paid over or under the table to agree to take huge pay cuts...even illegal ones that put the future of their careers and their families in jeopardy. Their moral integrity is simply too low....which has resulted in the current mess that is so obvious. Sadly, I have no answer as to whether or not there exist a person or persons of the required strengths of character and morality to lead and return the landscape of collegiate basketball and football to a level of integrity I and others expect from our institutions of higher education. Sad indeed...but fact.