The 2017-18 NCAA basketball season has been covered by a dark cloud due to an FBI investigation that was released back in September, naming several big-time programs and players who gave and received impermissible benefits from sports agencies.
This has NBA implications and ties to the Pacers, as both Myles Turner and Edmond Sumner have been represented by Andy Miller of ASM, one of the agencies in question.
Reports surfaced this week from Yahoo sports reporters Pat Forde and Pete Thamel that named more programs and players, up to as many as 50, in an NCAA corruption probe. After successful NBA agent Andy Miller (from the agency ASM) saw his agency raided by the FBI back in September, sealed documents from that raid were released this week. Taken in that descent were computers, documents, and much more that went into deep detail related to what players had been paid, what coaches knew, and more.
As the article from Yahoo Sports explained, the FBI had very detailed information that reporters have been mentioning for months.
"Sources familiar with the probe told Yahoo Sports that there’s a surprising level of specificity in the documents, bank records and wiretaps involving Miller’s business. They include exact dollar figures and intricate documentation of payments to the families of college players. There are also conversations brokering deals between Dawkins and the clients he was recruiting.“There are spreadsheets detailing who got paid, how much they got paid and how much more they were planning to pay,” said a source familiar with the investigation. “The feds got everything they wanted and much more. Don’t think it will only be players who ended up signing with ASM that got paid. Those spreadsheets cast a wide net throughout college basketball. If your school produced a first-round pick in the past three years, be worried.”According to the sources, the financial records from Miller and wiretap conversations featuring Dawkins illuminate the blatant nature of deal-making to land top talent well before the players turn professional. Those deals could threaten the current eligibility of players because of NCAA amateurism rules and retroactively put in peril the contests participated in by those players. Sources said this includes numerous prominent players in the upcoming NCAA tournament, the showcase of college basketball. “It’s all there,” said a different source familiar with the investigation."
In the report that was released in the early morning of February 23rd, which contained documents obtained in the FBI investigation of the agency, a current Pacers player and former ASM client was named: rookie guard and former Xavier University star Edmond Sumner.
Those documents obtained by Pat Forde showed that Sumner, and/or his father Ernest, reportedly received up to $7,000 in advances while the guard was enrolled at Xavier University.
Xavier’s Head Coach Chris Mack released a statement late last evening in regards to the report naming Sumner.
"“I have no relationship with Andy Miller or any of his associates. He plays no role in the recruitment of potential student athletes on Xavier’s behalf. Beyond that, our staff has never created a path for him to foster a relationship with any of our student-athletes while enrolled at Xavier. Any suggestion that I or anyone on my staff utilized Andy Miller to provide even the slightest of financial benefits to a Xavier student-athlete is grossly misinformed. We are prepared to cooperate with any and all investigations at any level.”"
It is worth noting that Sumner terminated his relationship with Andy Miller and ASM back in September of 2017 after the agency was raided and named in the FBI investigation. Pacers center Myles Turner was also represented by Andy Miller and ASM, but unlike Sumner, Turner did not sever ties after the investigation (Miller is no longer a licensed NBA agent, so Turner is no longer represented by him). Turner told the Indy Star back in September:
"“I talk to (Miller) every day. Keeping me updated on everything. Telling me you’re going hear stuff. People are going to want me to go here. People are going to want me to jump ship, but Andy’s my guy, man. I’m not going nowhere.”Turner, one of the highest-rated recruits in the country when he got drafted, said he didn’t take any money from anyone.“My parents were like, ‘Myles we’re not taking any money. I don’t care what you’re saying,'” he said with a laugh. “I’m glad we didn’t.”"
After being drafted 52nd overall in the 2017 draft after tearing his ACL during his junior season at Xavier, Sumner was signed to a two-way contract by the Pacers. The rookie guard was recently given clearance to return back to action and has since been playing with the Pacers G League Affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Sumner has yet to appear in a game with the Pacers.
Other NBA players and ASM clients who were named in the released documents include Bam Adebayo, Dennis Smith Jr., Markelle Fultz, Fred VanVleet, and many others.
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While this news likely has no impact on Edmond Sumner or the Pacers, the FBI investigation into the NCAA, Andy Miller, and other prominent NBA Agents will absolutely be noteworthy news over the coming months as players will potentially need to switch agencies. Be on the lookout for the fallout that this story has on the NBA.