Harvard University is ramping up its recruiting in men’s basketball under a new coach, Tommy Amaker, and some of those efforts may raise ethical concerns or even violate National Collegiate Athletic Association rules, The New York Times reports.

Possible violations include visits to potential recruits by Kenny Blakeney just before he was hired as an assistant coach. Those visits exceeded the contact allowed between a college’s representatives and recruits during that period. In another incident, Mr. Amaker spoke to a potential recruit and his parents during a period when the NCAA limits contact between coaches and possible players.

Another questionable aspect of Harvard’s recruiting involves academic standards. Like other Ivy League colleges, Harvard uses an academic index comprising grade-point average, SAT score, and class rank. A score of 171 on the index allows an athlete to compete in the league, but two former Harvard coaches told the Times that the Crimson had a team minimum of 202 under the previous leadership. That policy, they said, precluded them from courting students with scores below 195. Some players recruited by Mr. Amaker, but not yet admitted since decisions are still pending, do not meet those standards.

Harvard, which has never won an Ivy League title in basketball, said it had determined that Mr. Amaker’s speaking to a potential recruit and his family was not a rules violation. The university’s athletics director is looking into the alleged contact involving Mr. Blakeney. The assistant coach has pointed out that he was not affiliated with Harvard at the time of the visits. Mr. Amaker, who came to Harvard from coaching stints in the Big Ten and Big East Conferences, released a statement saying, “individuals who know our staff understand the high principles under which we operate.” —Beckie Supiano