Just curious...does that happen often?
It can. I don't know the details of this situation but in general the NCAA Recruiting Regulations specify the when a recruiter can initiate contact with a prospect, how often they can do so, and what that contact can include.
For example during the Evaluation Period when recruiters go on campus they meet with the prospect's coach to discuss a prospect and his grades they are permitted incidental contact with the prospect such as "running into him" in passing. What usually happens is the HS coach calls the prospect to his office and the recruiter is sitting in the office, a "running into". There's supposed to be a nod of acknowledgement and that's about it. A recruiter walking to the gym and sitting with the recruit to watch a HS basketball game is a violation. Saban, for example, pushes the envelope on "running into" recruits.
As for calls, the regs specify when the college recruiters can make contact. During Quiet Periods ( which I think is now, June 1st, but I haven't checked that) the recruiter isn't supposed to call (unless he works for Kiffen) BUT the prospect can still call the recruiter. I suspect that was the basis for Wright not knowing he was supposed to make the call.
Keep in mind this is a recruit's first time being recruited. The recruiter's have the NCAA regs beat into their heads (supposedly) by their head coach and their school's compliance personnel. Recruiters have to take written NCAA tests on the rules and be certified by the NCAA before they can recruit. Recruit's frequently rely on their coach to advise them of the recruiting rules and what the prospect can and can't do. While many coaches may be unbiased if a coach prefers his kids stay instate at State U for instance he may forget to mention that the recruit can initiate contact.
