CLOSE SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt tells us what's in store for Zion Williamson as he makes his transition from college star to likely first pick in the NBA draft. USA TODAY
Federal prosecutors in New York have accused Avenatti of attempting to extort Nike. Avenatti claims Williamson’s mother, Sharonda Sampson, received money from Nike during her son’s recruitment. Avenatti shared a 41-page document over social media, but it did not contain anything specific mentioning Williamson.
Williamson, the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, accepted two national player of the year awards on Friday at the Final Four -- for the Associated Press and U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and said it felt bittersweet to accept those as "team awards" but not be playing in the national semifinal game Saturday. Williamson's Blue Devils lost by one point to Michigan State in the Elite Eight to end their season.
.@DukeMBB - About this denial by Coach K the other day relating to payments by Nike...Can you please ask Zion Williamson’s mother - Sharonda Sampson - whether she was paid by @nike for bogus “consulting services” in 2016/17 as part of a Nike bribe to get Zion to go to Duke? Thx.
usatodaysports Duke vetting process.
usatodaysports Everyone in any way associated with Zion made and will continue to make major $$$, way more than he will ever make ... that includes Duke, Nike, NCAA, NBA, the media and the networks. Has he not delivered? Have you not been entertained and your pockets filled?zionwilliamson
usatodaysports Think they all did it for the money from Nike or the promised potential...that’s just not right.
usatodaysports Yeah Duke thoroughly vetted just how many NCAA violations and broken federal laws they could get away with before reaching a tipping point maybe. Guess they missed the part where Avenatti was holding receipts...
usatodaysports Nike is 💩
usatodaysports How much money did Zion bring to Duke and NCAA this year? Look somewhere else for “crimes.”
usatodaysports Abdolutely shocking (said no one from northeast Ohio who remembers the LBJ high school years)
usatodaysports
usatodaysports Shocked beyond belief 🙄
usatodaysports Chasing a Ghost
usatodaysports But did Duke check his mother’s bank account? She is the one who allegedly received payments.
usatodaysports Of course they did. They have been doing it for years .
usatodaysports I’m sure Duke covered all the tracks before Zion officially signed to play for them. They might be cheaters but they’re not stupid.