Dick Weiss on College Basketball
PHILADELPHIA– Attorneys representing lawyer Michael Avernatti opened another can of worms in the shoe company wars when they filed a court motion that alleges a Nike employee at least approved under-the-table payments to former Duke star Zion Williamson and ex-Indiana star Romeo Langford when they were still in high school in Feb. 2017.
The alleged offers– $35,000 or more for Williamson and $20,000 for Langford – were reportedly discovered among e-mails, text messages and other documents from 2016-17—proving that Nike executives had arranged for and concealed payments, often in cash, to amateur basketball players and their families and handlers, according to the motion filed in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan.
There is no evidence payments were made to Williamson, Langford and their families. Williamson played one season at Duke and was the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft by New Orleans. Langford was also a one-and-done and the 14th pick by the Boston Celtics.
But there is a lot at stake here.
If the government finds this conspiracy story has legs and related bomb shell allegations by Avernatti about Nike EBYL coaches funneling money to marquee players, their families and handlers to play in its grassroots league can be proved in court. it could signal the beginning of the end for the powerful EBYL. and even give the NCAA the moral high ground to take away Peach Jam’s live event status if it is serious about reforming summer recruiting.
That’s a big if.
Avernatti was arrested and charged by the feds in March with attempting to extort up to $25 million from Nike by threatening to expose the shoe company’s alleged improper payments to high profile prospects in its grassroots basketball league, the EBYL. He has pleaded not guilty, claiming he was targeted. “Nike, Zion and Duke and many others have a lot of explaining to do,’’ he said..
Nike said it would not respond to unfounded charges by a individual facing federal charges of fraud and extortion.
The motion to dismiss specifically alleges:
Nike EYBL manager Jamal James texted EYBL director Carlton Debose and Nike recruiting coordinator John Stovall in Feb. 2017, asking whether they would be “willing to do—whatever was needed for Zion/Romeo and well as an unnamed younger player in Michigan.
Stovall responded” “Langford- $20, Zion-$35 plus and a minor player– $15.
Debose responded he was willing to pay Langford, Williamson and the unnamed player a total of $70,000 and they should stay “aggressive” while he got “creative with the budget,’’ according to the motion.
Debose responded he was willing to pay Langford, Williamson and an unnamed player from Michigan a total of $70,000 and that they should “stay aggressive” while he “got creative with the budget,” according to the motion. Stovall later informed James and Debose that they had “not presented” the offer to Williamson but agreed that it was not a good idea. “to put it in print.”
An EBYL coach expressed concern to Nike executives about players and family members being paid by the shoe company. Debose told Nico Harrison, a vice president of Nike’s North American basketball operations, he was “willing to bet 38 of 40 teams in the EBYL had to pay a moderate to considerate ransom to families just to play in the summer league. The motion says Debose admitted in an exchange of text messages with an unnamed assistant coach at Kentucky, that Nike was funneling payments to high school players through at least 10 different EBYL coaches.
It makes for interesting reading and paints a disturbing picture of what college basketball recruiting could become in the growing shoe wars armed race.
