Collin Sexton, FBI trials and the Alabama basketball program

Alabama basketball fans want to know what Collin Sexton has done and if what he may have done will create an NCAA problem for the Crimson Tide program.

The first of an expected three trials stemming from a FBI investigation into college basketball began a few days ago. Twitter exploded with allegations made during testimony. The most buzz came from testimony by Brian Bowen Sr., father of former prized recruit Brian Bowen II. Alabama basketball fans were dismayed when Collin Sexton’s name appeared in trial proceedings.

The senior Bowen was allegedly involved in accepting money from Adidas in exchange for his son to sign with an Adidas-affiliated college basketball school. He is testifying in a trial for defendants, James Gatto (Adidas executive), Merl Code (formerly with Adidas) and Christian Dawkins. Dawkins was an aspiring player’s agent who functioned as a liaison between players and people of influence in the basketball world. ‘Runner’ is a label most often ascribed to someone like Dawkins.

The defendants are charged with wire fraud, bribery and other felonies stemming from alleged efforts to use Adidas money as reported by the Courier Journal, to

"funnel money to the families of college basketball recruits to influence them to retain certain advisers, to commit to the University of Louisville and the University of Miami and to sign with Adidas if they went pro."

On Thursday, Bowen Sr. testified schools offered money from $50,000 – $150,000 dollars for his son to sign with them. The offers were allegedly coordinated between Dawkins and assistant coaches at  Arizona, Creighton, Oklahoma State and Texas, before the family settled on a $100,000 dollar payment from Louisville. Other testimony has alleged Oregon was also competing with Louisville with offers to the family.

Alabama basketball fans are wondering why Collin Sexton is now a subject of attention and not Auburn basketball coach, Chuck Person, who was arrested last year in a similar pay-for-play scheme. One reason is Person’s trial is not scheduled until February.

The main reason Collin Sexton is mentioned now is he may have received a payment of $5,000 from Dawkins. Media outlets have reported there are court documents suggesting Dawkins gave Sexton that amount of money.

No one in the media has seen such a document and will not while the trial is in progress. Therefore, we have no idea what ‘document’ means. There is no value in conjecture. What perhaps merits attention is the way Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel announced the Dawkins and Sexton connection.

Wetzel has probably covered the FBI college basketball investigation more thoroughly than anyone. We do not know why he used the word “suggesting” in his tweet or for what meaning. It is interesting and maybe illuminating to read Dan Wolken’s opinion of Christian Dawkins. Wolken is a writer for USA Today who has also followed this story for a long while.

Many media outlets have already jumped to conclusions such a payment was made to Sexton and the University of Alabama may have NCAA probation trouble as a result. Those conclusions are premature. Claims have been made, nothing has been proven. The source of the Sexton claim is a defendant with less than a sterling reputation.

Alabama basketball fans will have to wait until more is learned. In the interim, it might be worthwhile to remember the University of Alabama is not affiliated with Adidas. So, Dawkins was not allegedly passing along Adidas money for Collin to attend the University of Alabama. Doubtless, Dawkins had his hand in Nike money as well.

Bama Hammer will continue to follow this story carefully. We will write about it carefully as well. This story is complicated and in need of more facts. More details will follow as they become available.