Caught in crosshairs
Duke stud brought up at corruption trial — and other key takeaways
The college basketball corruption trial in downtown Manhattan has wrapped up, providing even more information on the seedy underbelly of the sport.
Here are five revelations from the federal case against aspiring sports agent Christian Dawkins, Adidas executive James Gatto and former Adidas consultant Merl Code:
Zion Williamson, the Duke freshman and five-star recruit, has found himself in the crosshairs. His father asked Kansas assistant coach Kurtis Townsend for money, housing and a job, according to FBI wiretaps between Townsend and Code. Coincidentally, this came out a day after Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said he doesn’t believe there is a problem, saying the scandal is a “blip. It’s not what’s happening.” An NCAA investigation into his recruitment could follow.
Kansas was frequently mentioned during the trial. In addition to Williamson, sophomore forward Silvio de Sousa’s guardian allegedly accepted $2,500 from Adidas consultant T.J. Gassnola. Gassnola also testified he offered $20,000 to the guardian to help pay back a $60,000 payment that was accepted from a Maryland booster to go to the Big Ten school. That’s not all. Gassnola also said he paid former Kansas player Billy Preston’s mother $89,000 over the course of a year. Gatto’s attorney, Michael Schachter, said Bill Self and Townsend knew of the payments to de Sousa’s handler and asked for them to be made, though Gassnola, who has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, has said that’s not the case, though they did meet to discuss recruits.
Will Wade, the secondyear LSU coach, was caught on FBI wiretaps talking with Dawkins about five-star recruit Balsa Koprivica, who attends Montverde Academy in Florida. In discussing Koprivica, Wade is heard telling Dawkins, “I can get you what you need” after he asked the coach if he was interested in the player. Wade has denied any wrongdoing, saying this week, “I or we have never, ever done business of any kind with Christian Dawkins.” Of all the schools recruiting former five-star recruit Brian Bowen, the only one not willing to pay was Michigan State, according to Dawkins’ lawyer, Steve Haney. The father, Brian Bowen Sr., listed several schools, Texas, Creighton, Arizona and Oklahoma State, that offered money and/or benefits for his son’s services, but not Michigan State. Oregon was said to have offered “an astronomical amount,” according to Schachter. Bowen wound up committing to Louisville but never played once the FBI investigation began and coach Rick Pitino was fired. It was alleged Gatto paid Bowen’s family $100,000 for him to attend Louisville.
N.C. State was the lone school directly tied to money being delivered. Gassnola testified former assistant coach Orlando Early was given $40,000 to deliver to the family of former player Dennis Smith Jr.