The federal investigation into corruption in college basketball has unearthed new financial documents which appear to link former NBA agent Andy Miller's ASM Sports to a litany of prominent basketball players - relationships which would likely contravene the very nucleus of NCAA amateurism.
The documents, obtained by Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde and Pete Thamel, include a balance sheet entitled "Loan to Players." That document features a list of cash alleged advances to notable players now among the professional ranks, including (college affiliation in brackets):
- Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (Villanova)
- Philadelphia 76ers guard Markelle Fultz (Washington)
- Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma (Utah)
- Dallas Mavericks guard Dennis Smith Jr. (N.C. State)
- Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (Kentucky)
- Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (Wichita State)
- New York Knicks forward Kyle O'Quinn (Norfolk State)
- Dallas Mavericks center Nerlens Noel (Kentucky)
- Brooklyn Nets guard Isaiah Whitehead (Seton Hall)
Several of the names listed as having outstanding loans - such as Brendan Haywood, Carlos Delfino, and Milt Palacio - have long been out of the NBA, let alone the amateur ranks.
Separate documents attributed to former ASM Sports associate Christian Dawkins purport to show itemized expense reports detailing meetings with high school and collegiate prospects in early 2016, but the nature of those meetings is unknown. Some of those players include:
- Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (Virginia)
- Phoenix Suns forward Josh Jackson (Kansas)
- Golden State Warriors guard Pat McCaw (UNLV)
- Denver Nuggets guard Malik Beasley (Florida State)
- Atlanta Hawks guard Isaiah Taylor (Texas)
- Memphis Grizzlies center Brice Johnson (UNC)
- Wendell Carter (Duke)
- Bennie Boatwright (USC)
- Mitchell Robinson
Dawkins' expense reports list dinners with other big names in college basketball, including Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and unspecified "Villanova coaches."
Dawkins was reportedly fired by ASM Sports in May 2017 due to charging approximately $42,000 in Uber rides on an NBA player's credit card. The 24-year-old was ultimately arrested in September on charges of wire fraud and bribery.
Three of the expenses listed were attributed to flights for highly touted 2016 recruit Brian Bowen, his father, and mother. Bowen became a pivotal figure in the related scandal at Louisville. According to a federal indictment, Bowen's father accepted funds from a former Adidas executive in order to ensure his son's commitment to Louisville, as well as secure future financial considerations with other stakeholders. The scandal led to the dismissal of Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, as well as athletic director Tom Jurich. Bowen ultimately transferred to South Carolina.
