I think that's been happening for awhile. I just read that Dustin Pedroia gave up his scholarship for his senior year at ASU so that they could add a recruit. I also remember it happening now and then with other programs.
I may be wrong, but I think Jake Locker did this. After he signed his minor league contract with the Angels (something like 400k, iirc) , he gave up his scholarship.
In fact, now that I think about it, so did Dennis Dixon. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2927602
I guess it's different b/c they weren't getting paid through school financial aid, but it DID help their teams get another player in while keeping their good players around.
i know Taylor Rochestie did this at WSU for his senior season so they could add a Marcus Capers. I don't believe Taylor received any financial aid however, since his family was pretty well off. i'm all for it as long as they don't get financial aid back from the state.
There is a difference between the Stocktons paying their own way at Gonzaga and Montana, and other players using public aid to cover the costs of the scholarship they forfeit so another player can use it. I think what UConn did is another of the so-called "gray areas" that we've seen so much discussion about this summer. Plus, I think Calhoun is the slimiest coach in the NCAA, yet somehow still has the reputation as being mostly clean.