Reports: Corruption in recruiting rampant

An FBI investigation into bribery and corruption in college basketball recruiting has embroiled some of the game’s top players and programs.

Yahoo Sports reported Friday on federal documents it obtained that reveal payments to players through former NBA agent Andy Miller and his company, ASM Sports.

Schools named as having players paid include Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky and Michigan State. Current USC players Bennie Boatwright and Chimezie Metu are among 25 players implicated.

Meanwhile, ESPN reported that FBI wiretaps caught Arizona head coach Sean Miller discussing paying star freshman Deandre Ayton $100,000 to play for the Wildcats.

Miller’s comments were allegedly made during a phone conversation with ASM Sports’ Christian Dawkins, a key figure in the FBI probe.

ESPN, citing unnamed sources familiar with the government’s evidence, reported that Dawkins asked Miller if he should work with assistant coach Emanuel “Book” Richardson to finalize their agreement, and Miller told Dawkins to deal directly with him when it came to money.

The FBI probe has lurked in the shadows since rocking the sport last fall. At that time, Richardson was one of four assistant coaches arrested. Richardson, accused of taking $20,000 in bribes and paying a recruit to play for Arizona, has since been fired. He is charged with six felonies.

In September, federal prosecutors painted a portrait of widespread corruption. The assistant coaches were said to have taken bribes to persuade players to sign with an agent upon reaching the NBA, and unnamed coaches, an Adidas executive and others were accused of funneling money to recruits in exchange for their commitments to teams sponsored by Adidas and for pledges to sign with the apparel company later.

Other players identified in the documents include former college players Dennis Smith Jr. (North Carolina State), Malcolm Brogdon (Virginia) and Markelle Fultz (Washington).