An ESPN report directly links Arizona head coach Sean Miller to the college basketball scandal that has rocked the sport in recent months. Miller, according to ESPN sources, was recorded discussing a $100,000 payment to bring freshman Deandre Ayton to Tuscon on multiple phone calls.
Arizona coach Sean Miller reportedly had multiple calls about $100,000 payment to secure Deandre Ayton
The Arizona coach is the third head coach formally linked to the FBI investigation.
Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
According to people with knowledge of the FBI investigation, Miller and [Christian] Dawkins, a runner working for ASM Sports agent Andy Miller, had multiple conversations about Ayton. When Dawkins asked Sean Miller if he should work with assistant coach Emanuel “Book” Richardson to finalize their agreement, Miller told Dawkins he should deal directly with him when it came to money, the sources said.
Ayton, a 7’1 center with incredible tools for a man his size, was a five star prospect and No. 4 in his recrutiing class coming out of the Phoenix area.
Miller is now the third head coach directly linked to the FBI investigation, though Miami’s Jim Larrañaga got good news on Feb. 15 when federal charges were dropped against an AAU coach accused of conspiring to help funnel a recruit to the Hurricanes.
Rick Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich was fired by Louisville in September.
The FBI investigation is wide-reaching and could affect several schools for alleged payments made to players both currently in college and former players now in the NBA. A Yahoo Sports investigation noted that “NCAA officials are staring at the prospect of a tournament with a winner that will likely be vacating its title.”
Miller’s Wildcats are ranked No. 14 and atop the Pac-12 (12-3, 22-6 overall), with the freshman Ayton leading the team with 19.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.
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