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Topic: FBI wiretaps show Sean Miller discussed $100K payment to lock recruit play
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ProBlue
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Member # 2944
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posted 02-24-2018 08:25 AM
FBI wiretaps show Sean Miller discussed $100K payment to lock recruit
play
1:40 AM ET
FBI wiretaps intercepted telephone conversations between Arizona coach Sean Miller and Christian Dawkins, a key figure in the FBI's investigation into college basketball corruption, in which Miller discussed paying $100,000 to ensure star freshman Deandre Ayton signed with the Wildcats, sources familiar with the government's evidence told ESPN.
According to people with knowledge of the FBI investigation, Miller and Dawkins, a runner working for ASM Sports agent Andy Miller, had multiple conversations about Ayton. When Dawkins asked 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.
The telephone calls between Miller and Dawkins were among 3,000 hours of conversations intercepted from Dawkins' phone by the FBI.
Ayton, a 7-foot-1 center who was born in the Bahamas, is considered one of the top freshmen in the country and a leading candidate for national player of the year honors. He is averaging 19.6 points and 10.9 rebounds in what is expected to be his only college season, helping the No. 14 Wildcats take a 1˝-game lead in the Pac-12 standings with three regular-season games to play.
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ESPN analyst Jonathan Givony, in his latest mock selections, projects Ayton as the No. 2 prospect available for this year's NBA draft.
Richardson, who worked for Miller the previous 10 seasons at Xavier and Arizona, was one of four assistant coaches arrested by FBI agents on Sept. 27, following a two-year investigation into bribes and other corruption in the sport.
Richardson is accused of accepting $20,000 in bribes and paying a recruit to sign with the Wildcats. In exchange for the money, the government alleges, Richardson agreed to influence Arizona players to sign with Dawkins and financial adviser Munish Sood, who also was arrested by FBI agents. Arizona formally fired Richardson on Jan. 11.
Richardson is charged with six felonies: conspiracy to commit bribery, solicitation of bribes by an agent of a federally funded organization, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, mail fraud conspiracy and travel act conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty and faces up to 60 years in prison and $1.5 million in fines.
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Oklahoma State's Lamont Evans, Auburn's Chuck Person and USC's Tony Bland were the other assistant coaches charged in the cases, along with Adidas executives James Gatto and Merl Code and former NBA referee Rashan Michel.
Dawkins, a former AAU director from Saginaw, Michigan, was charged with wire fraud in September after the government accused him of funneling money from Adidas to the families of high-profile recruits. Last week, a federal judge in New York declined to dismiss criminal indictments against Dawkins, Gatto and Code.
On Friday, Yahoo! Sports reported that players from more than 20 Division I men's basketball programs have been identified as possibly breaking NCAA rules through violations that were uncovered by the FBI's investigation into corruption in the sport.
Schools identified by Yahoo! as having players who possibly violated NCAA rules include Duke, North Carolina, Texas, Kentucky, Michigan State, USC and Kansas. At least 25 players are linked to impermissible benefits, including Michigan State's Miles Bridges, Alabama's Collin Sexton and Duke's Wendell Carter.
The documents detailed the work of Andy Miller and his agency. Yahoo! reported that the documents -- which include paperwork from 2015 through 2017 -- show cash advances as well as entertainment and travel expenses paid for college prospects and their families. They did not mention Sean Miller or Ayton.
Ayton moved from the Bahamas to San Diego, where he played two seasons of high school basketball. As a junior in 2015, he transferred to Hillcrest Prep Academy in Phoenix, where he played with current Duke freshman Marvin Bagley III. Ayton was ranked the No. 3 player in the 2017 ESPN 100, behind Bagley and current Missouri freshman Michael Porter Jr.
Ayton committed to Arizona on Sept. 3, 2016, after also considering scholarship offers from Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland and San Diego State. When Ayton signed with the Wildcats, Miller described him as "one of these once-in-a-generation types of players" because of his size and shooting ability.
After Richardson was arrested in late September, Arizona president Robert C. Robbins announced that the university had hired two law firms to conduct independent investigations into the matter.
Asked for a comment, Arizona reiterated statements issued by school athletic director Dave Heeke and Miller in October when the investigations were announced.
At the time the investigations were announced, Robbins said in a statement, "Head coach Sean Miller has not been charged with -- nor accused of -- any misconduct and he has been fully cooperative and supportive of our efforts to determine the facts in pursuit of the truth. ... Based on the facts that we know at this time, we support Coach Miller and intend to provide him with all of the tools necessary to meet our goals and expectations."
Milwaukee Bucks guard Jason Terry, who played at Arizona under coach Lute Olson from 1995 to '99, tweeted that it's time to for the Wildcats to "clean house."
Miller, 49, is a three-time Pac-12 Conference Coach of the Year and has a 242-72 record in his ninth season with the Wildcats. The Arizona Board of Regents approved a contact extension for him in February 2017, which increased his annual salary to at least $2.9 million through 2022. He has denied knowledge of Richardson's alleged scheme to bribe players to sign with Arizona.
"As the head basketball coach at the University of Arizona, I recognize my responsibility is not only to establish a culture of success on the basketball court and in the classroom, but as important, to promote and reinforce a culture of compliance," Miller said in a statement released in September. "To the best of my ability, I have worked to demonstrate this over the past eight years and will continue to do so as we move forward."
If Miller is fired for cause, his contract is written in such a way that he would still receive more than 85 percent of the money he is owed through May 31, 2022.
Miller's contract provides that even if he is fired with cause, the university would have to pay his base salary. The contract defines his base salary as his salary plus his peripheral salary. That adds up to roughly $10.3 million through May 2022. The only part that Miller wouldn't be entitled to is $1.7 million from Nike and IMG that is due to him if he completes his contract.
Keeping such a percentage on a firing for cause would be unprecedented. Most coaches who are fired for cause receive no additional money past their employment date. But the contract has no provision that waives the university's obligation to pay Miller what is owed based on an NCAA violation. The contract makes no mention of the university's recourse if criminality is involved.
The contract also provides that if Miller commits an NCAA violation, he would have to pay up to $300,000 in damages to the university's coffers for the price of defending itself. If an NCAA violation occurs, Arizona has the right to claw back bonuses given to Miller during the time of the violation.
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ProBlue
Posts: 754 | From: Bristol,Tn. | Registered: Feb 2008
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ukcatfannfl
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Member # 1425
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posted 02-24-2018 09:42 AM
Rick's new job is about to be opened up!! ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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ukcatfannfl
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jerseycat
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Member # 9
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posted 02-24-2018 10:08 AM
Assuming the reports are accurate, how could Miller be so stupid to discuss stuff like this on the phone.
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UK Class of 1968
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handycat
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Member # 2323
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posted 02-24-2018 10:22 AM
I was listening to ESPN radio this morning and it sounds like almost every major program is being implicated to some extent including UK. This is not going to turn out good for college basketball. I'm beginning to think they are all guilty to some extent.
Posts: 5402 | From: decatur ill. | Registered: Feb 2005
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SCWC
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Member # 2464
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posted 02-24-2018 12:28 PM
I would assume Sean Miller's college coaching career is now over as the college eligibilty of his big center Ayton. I can see the NCAA leaving ARizona out of the tournament this year based on these circumstances.
Posts: 17777 | From: Myrtle Beach, SC | Registered: Jun 2005
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m hamilton
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Member # 127
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posted 02-24-2018 07:27 PM
Nothing is going to happen to any of these programs this season. The reg season is all but over. As slow as the NCAA moves it'll be spring of 2019 before any allegations even get brought down!
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The potus is planning 1st major tax hike since '93 in next economic package!
I still can't believe some people believed that LIAR!!!
Your whole life is determined(by) 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you handle it!!!
Posts: 123985 | From: vevay, IN USA | Registered: Sep 1999
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catmandoo
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posted 02-24-2018 11:07 PM
I hope your right MH but this sounds serious and it could affect a lot of programs.
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http://www.ukfightsong.com/
Posts: 186359 | From: st. augustine florida 32092 | Registered: Mar 2001
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m hamilton
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Member # 127
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posted 02-24-2018 11:12 PM
Not saying something won't eventually happen but NCAA is like the legal system. You have a right to a speedy trial, but I wouldn't guarantee that!
Three toed sloths have a speed!!
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The potus is planning 1st major tax hike since '93 in next economic package!
I still can't believe some people believed that LIAR!!!
Your whole life is determined(by) 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you handle it!!!
Posts: 123985 | From: vevay, IN USA | Registered: Sep 1999
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Tiptree
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posted 02-24-2018 11:16 PM
This is not the NCAA. This is the FBI. What the NCAA does in immaterial in the short run, but I am sure they will use a big broom to sweep all the games and titles won with ineligible players back to the dustbin of history.
So, Ayton will likey contintue to play (he is playing right now), and Miller may even return to coach (although he isn't coaching tonight's game against Oregon; one of his assistants is coaching. Hmmm....).
Yeah, this will get really, really ugly, and soon.
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Tiptree
“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” Thomas Jefferson
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catmandoo
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posted 02-24-2018 11:28 PM
The FBI don't mess around and they don't play favorites.
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Posts: 186359 | From: st. augustine florida 32092 | Registered: Mar 2001
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SCWC
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posted 02-25-2018 07:15 AM
I have little to no confidence at all in the FBI, never have had and never will have. They are pawns of politics in my opinion and that should never happen. They do play favorites, Comey and his henchmen certainly played favorites with the Hillary Clinton investigation. I know this is not a basketball topic but this is where you put your halo over the organization and there are no halo wearers within the FBI anymore in my humble opinion. Look at the young lives lost in your home state of Florida because of the dropped ball by the FBI. Don't go putting them on pedestals anymore, they do not belong there and they certainly do play favorites.
[ 02-25-2018, 07:18 AM: Message edited by: SCWC ]
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Old Norm
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posted 02-25-2018 09:53 AM
Ray beat me to it. I was about to call BS on "The FBI don't mess around and they don't play favorites." They most definitely play favorites.
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Pray For Our Country!
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PaulCat
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Member # 513
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posted 02-25-2018 10:03 AM
So what crime did Sean Miller commit that the FBI is looking at? Even if it is true that he is on tape discussing payment of $100k to a potential player, is that in itself a crime? Pitino wasn't charged with a crime for the same situation. And simply discussing something doesn't mean it happened.
I'm not saying all this in support of Miller or Ricky boy - if what they did is true then I think they get what they deserve - but I'm just curiously wanting to know the law as it relates to this FBI probe. Is the FBI just releasing information it uncovered based on a criminal probe of the ASM sports agency?
[ 02-25-2018, 10:06 AM: Message edited by: PaulCat ]
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Tiptree
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posted 02-25-2018 11:17 AM
No charges have been made against Miller -- yet. But here is what they laid on Richardson:
quote:
Richardson is charged with six felonies: conspiracy to commit bribery, solicitation of bribes by an agent of a federally funded organization, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, mail fraud conspiracy and travel act conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty and faces up to 60 years in prison and $1.5 million in fines.
Now, they can't get Miller on solicitation of Bribes from a Federal Agent, but all of the other charges might be levied against him. When money passes between individuals "under the table" and a contract is signed as a result, that is the very essence of bribery. If the FBI wants him in jail, he will be in jail.
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Tiptree
“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” Thomas Jefferson
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boomdaddy
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posted 02-25-2018 11:26 AM
There is a huge difference between a HC and assitants directly offering huge sums of money to get a recruit and kids that go to a school that have some connection (be it directly , through a family member, or coach) to an agent, without a prodram's knowledge.
There are a lot names in the near future coming out over Adidas.
Uk is Nike
I don't see UK being tied to it, but it appears that there are a few past players who are, and the connection is being made more siinster in the media that it really is.
This is not point shaving to make money on gambling, which would be a huge deal....
I think what the FBI is investigating makes me scratch my head, because they should be cleaning their own house of criminils inside their own organization and get rid of the political corruption.
This is small potatoes, compared to what the political espionage and treason inside their own organization.
I feel this an effort to put the FBI in a positive light, like they are doing some good.
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ukcatfannfl
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posted 02-25-2018 12:54 PM
Boom says:
"There is a huge difference between a HC and assitants directly offering huge sums of money to get a recruit and kids that go to a school that have some connection (be it directly , through a family member, or coach) to an agent, without a prodram's knowledge."
Right on Boom plus all HC's know what their asst Coaches are doing. If asst coach is caught then the HC should also go down with the ship..
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ukcatfannfl
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Bama Cat
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posted 02-25-2018 05:42 PM
If they have the communication of Miller on tape I would think he will never coach in the NCAA again. As far as Ayton goes, he will probably continue playing unless the NCAA steps in and says no more. I would think that all of AZ games will be forfeited this year if he played in all of them. Sure am glad Cal didn't pursue him any harder. Does something like this explain why we got Knox out of the blue?? We may never know. Is that how Duke got 1 or more of their signees?? we just don't know who has done what. Sure makes a big mess for the NCAA to comb thru and they probably will be lucky to get thru it in 2018. Sort of like taking the crown away from Louisville five years later. I say do away with the NCAA and turn em lose and let them go to the highest bidder. ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
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