University of Arizona basketball coach Sean Miller was reportedly caught discussing a $100,000 payment to ensure a recruit. FBI wiretaps intercepted Miller’s phone calls.
The player Miller discussed in the phone call was Deandre Ayton, a star freshman for the Wildcats who is considered a national Player of the Year candidate.
Miller had multiple conversations with Christian Dawkins, a runner working for a sports agent. When Dawkins asked Miller if he should work with an assistant coach to finalize the agreement, Miller allegedly told him he should deal directly with him when it came to money.
According to ESPN, the phone calls between Dawkins and Miller were among 3,000 hours of conversations intercepted from Dawkins’ phone by the FBI. Arizona’s players were told Saturday that Miller would not be coaching in their game against Oregon.
"I believe it is in the best interest of our team that I not coach the game tonight," Miller said in a statement. "I continue to fully support the University's efforts to fully investigate this matter and am confident that I will be vindicated. For now, my thoughts are with our team. They are a great group of young men that will support each other and continue their pursuit of winning a Pac-12 championship."
