Developing circumstances from the recently concluded federal trial involving college basketball prompted the 蜜柚直播 Board of Regents to schedule a private executive session to discuss UA basketball on Thursday, according to regent Jay Heiler.
A public notice said the meeting was called 鈥渇or legal advice and discussion鈥� regarding UA men鈥檚 basketball, though regents treasurer Bill Ridenour said the wording was 鈥渂oilerplate鈥� and that any decision to act, if ever needed, would come from UA president Robert Robbins. He said UA coach Sean Miller鈥檚 contract would not be discussed nor 鈥渁nything like that.鈥�
鈥淒r. Robbins keeps much closer tabs on this situation, as well as (蜜柚直播 athletic director) Dave Heeke,鈥� Ridenour said. 鈥淲hat we don鈥檛 want is Regents reading the paper and not getting the full information, so it鈥檚 more of our due diligence as we move forward. What you read in the papers and see in these trials, a lot of it in my opinion is just speculation. So we need to make sure we have the facts.鈥�
For the latest on ABOR's meeting, click here.
A federal jury in New York found two Adidas employees and aspiring street agent Christian Dawkins guilty of defrauding universities by creating payment schemes to players. During the trial, the father of five-star recruit Brian Bowen testified that Dawkins told him that then-UA associate head coach Joe Pasternack offered $50,000 for his son to play for the Wildcats.
After the trial, ESPN reported that phones listed for Miller and Dawkins were connected for five minutes or more on 13 occasions, and that Dawkins emailed a plan to pay Rawle Alkins a total of $50,000 while playing for the Wildcats last season.
Those three allegations are new since the Regents last discussed the basketball situation in September.
The initial federal complaint from September 2017 also included allegations that former UA assistant coach Book Richardson took $20,000 in bribes to help secure a commitment from five-star guard Jahvon Quinerly, and that, according to an Adidas rep, 蜜柚直播 offered five-star forward Nassir Little $150,000.
Little鈥檚 family has denied receiving a payment and the federal government ruled that Little鈥檚 travel-ball coach, Brad Augustine, planned to keep any payments for himself.
鈥淭he circumstances here obviously continue to develop, and as they do, the board will continue to meet and confer with the university administration in furtherance of our respective duties,鈥� Heiler said. 鈥淓verybody鈥檚 paying close attention to what鈥檚 known and proceeding accordingly. In light of the recent developments in federal court, we have decided to get together and discuss the matter again.鈥�
Miller said Tuesday he was aware of the meeting, calling it 鈥渞egularly scheduled.鈥� It will be part of a packed schedule the Regents will have Thursday at ASU鈥檚 downtown campus.
鈥淎ll of the regent committees meet on that day, so we just thought it was advisable to schedule an update into the basketball program,鈥� Ridenour said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just an update so we make sure we aren鈥檛 surprised by anything.鈥�
