The FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball has placed the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats and head coach Sean Miller under the microscope.
While more than 20 programs were listed in the latest FBI probe, Miller is perhaps the most prominent coach to show up in the reports. ESPN's Mark Schlabach reported Friday that the FBI wiretapped a phone call between Miller and ASM Sports agency affiliate Christian Dawkins, discussing a $100,000 payment to top 2017 recruit Deandre Ayton to secure his commitment at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
Former UA players including Andre Iguodala, Jason Terry, Tom Tolbert and Richard Jefferson have spoke out on Miller and the state of the program.
The latest Wildcat: 1997 national championship point guard Mike Bibby.
Bibby coached a different alma mater, Phoenix powerhouse Shadow Mountain High School, to a third consecutive state championship against Salpointe Catholic on Saturday afternoon. The Star caught up with Bibby after the game to hear his thoughts on ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s involvement in a scandal that is sure to alter the college basketball landscape.
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Former ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcat standout Mike Bibby on ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s involvement in the FBI scandal: “It’s sad to see. ... A regular kid could get a slice of pizza while an athlete can’t. ... Something has to be done where this doesn’t happen.â€
— Justin Spears (@JustinESports)
"It's sad to see. Eventually, they're gonna have to start paying some of these kids," Bibby said. "The kids don't need $1 million, $10 million. They need something to where it's not a struggle in college. Any kid is gonna struggle in college, unless your parents are rich.
"It's a struggle in college, it's hard. A regular kid could get a slice of pizza while an athlete can't. It's just unfair. The athletes bring so much money in for the school and it's not just that. Something has to be done where this doesn't happen."
Bibby's former teammate, Terry, Tweeted that ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ should "clean house" and hire a head coach from the Lute Olson pipeline.
"That's not my decision to make," Bibby said. "I'd love to be there, I'm a Lute Olson guy. It's up to what these guys want to do. Eventually I'd want to move on from high school and coach college or the NBA."
For now, Bibby will await his third state championship ring as the coach of Shadow Mountain.
Award-winning sports journalist, University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ graduate and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ native.Â