Friday was a day of big developments in the widening college basketball scandal tied to agents and pay-for-prospects, but a true bombshell dropped Friday night when ESPN reported that Arizona head men's basketball coach Sean Miller was on an FBI wiretap discussing a payment for a prospect:
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.
If true, that's as smoking as a gun gets: “Miller told Dawkins he should directly with him when it came to money.”
Ayton, a 7-foot-1 freshman center, is averaging 19.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game for the No. 14 Wildcats this season, leading the Pac-12 in both categories. His 18 double-doubles are tied for the most of any player this year.
Saturday afternoon, reports emerged indicating Miller would not coach his team's game against Oregon:
Sean Miller will not coach Arizona tonight at Oregon. Players have been told.
— Greg Hansen (@ghansen711) February 24, 2018
Wonder how Arizona President Dr. Robert Robbins is doing these days?
If Ohio State wants Sean Miller, Arizona's president says the Buckeyes can have him ... "over my dead body." https://t.co/WrfNfCnjJr
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 7, 2017
