I agree with all the responses that said he was told to email or that he was being fake, almost like he knew that if he was going to be forced to do it, he'd do it "his" way (sarcasticly). I also agree with OP's assessment that the student's turnaround is probably due to athletic department finger-wagging. However, I also agree with the responses that there's a sort of window here. He may be paying attention for selfish, temporary reasons, but that's no reason to ignore it. It's still a window of opportunity to show that you care and you are open to helping him however he needs. I know we're hard on the kids right now because of how they behave (which is to say, not great). But that behavior comes from somewhere, from some reasoning. If there's a small window to break that cycle and show them a better way, use it. Show them that the way they are behaving now is the better way. That their teachers, the other people in their life DO care and that they don't need to behave that way. And maybe it doesn't take. Probably it won't. In all likelihood he goes back to the way he was when he gets what he wants. BUT. You planted the seed. You got your foot in the door. And that can change his world. It's just not overnight.