Wiretaps Reportedly Reveal Arizona’s Sean Miller Talking Player Payment

The latest and greatest NCAA basketball scandal has its first — but undoubtedly not last — poster boy.

Yahoo Sports’ Pat Forde and Pete Thamel got the ball rolling Friday, unleashing a bombshell report about widespread corruption in college basketball. But ESPN’s Mark Schlabach upped the ante Saturday morning, reporting that FBI wiretaps revealed Arizona head coach Sean Miller talking about paying star freshman Deandre Ayton.

Check this out:

“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.”

Wow.

If this is true, it’s difficult to imagine Miller and Ayton finishing the season with the No. 14 Wildcats. Ayton is projected by many to be a top-five pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, but it’s fair to wonder whether his stock will take a hit after such a scandal.

And although Arizona currently — and deservedly — is taking a massive blow to its reputation, it might not be long before the program gets some company. Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, Michigan State, Texas and USC, as well at least 25 current and former college stars, are just some some those who possibly violated NCAA rules, according to Forde and Thamel.

Not good!