FBI trial with new allegations of LSU deep pockets for basketball players

A new allegation was made Monday in the FBI trial involving corruption in college basketball. Will Wade was again implicated in buying a player.

In trying to keep up with the long-running FBI investigation, an FBI trial is the best source. The FBI is interested in criminal activity; bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The best way to summarize the wrongdoing is it centers on ‘pay-for-play’ schemes at perhaps more than two dozen schools.

The most potentially damage evidence coming from the most recent trial is centered on Sean Miller at Arizona and Will Wade at LSU.  So far, the claims against Miller and Wade come short of proof. Even if proof is later established, it may not be proof of any criminal activity.

From testimony in multiple FBI trials, taped phone conversations from FBI wiretaps, video of conversations and divulged information from former participants, turned into FBI undercover sources – there is very little chance the allegations of buying basketball players is untrue.

A week ago we suggested the NCAA should be on trial for looking the other way for decades. It would not be an FBI trial. The NCAA is not guilty of any illegal activity. But in the court of public opinion, the NCAA could be found guilty of incompetence – even complicity.

Money from shoe companies has been tainting college basketball going back to at least the 1970s with Sonny Vaccaro. Vaccaro developed grass-roots basketball into a national footprint and also was a lead marketing guru for Nike, Reebok and Adidas.

It became common for college coaches to collect big fees from a show company after the coach’s school signed a deal with the company. It has long been believed common for shoe company dollars to be spent on attracting players for their affiliated schools. Cash would be thrown at recruits, their families, handlers and often seedy agent ‘wanna-be’ types.

While the practice has been believed to be widespread for decades, the NCAA has done little. The organization has mostly ignored the problem. What will it do now with more scrutiny driven by the FBI trials?

At Arizona, LSU and maybe more than two dozen other schools, the hope is the NCAA will do little or nothing. The new norm appears to be for schools and coaches to deny everything until punishment is near.

LSU head coach Will Wade faces seemingly credible allegations he was personally involved in ‘pay-for-play.’ The most recent was made Monday during an FBI trial.

How did LSU respond?

"“We are continuing to monitor the situation. Due to the fluid nature of this matter, LSU will refrain from commenting until further notice,” said Jason Droddy, LSU’s interim vice president for strategic communications in a statement to NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune."

LSU has a new highly respected athletic director in Scott Woodward. That reputation is suddenly at risk. This time, maybe a school will conduct an internal investigation and do the right thing. As in firing Wade if there is enough evidence he was buying players. The right thing instead of denials and trying to wait out NCAA inaction.

The two conversations when Will Wade allegedly talked about money for players involved Javonte Smart and Naz Reid. Both young men are entering the NBA Draft after one season in Baton Rouge.