The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

AMID controversy, Bahamian collegiate basketball star DeAndre Ayton produced one of his best games of the season, but his Arizona Wildcats fell short in their bid to claim a share of the PAC-12 regular season title.

Ayton finished with 28 points on 11-15 shooting from the field, grabbed 18 rebounds and added four blocked shots in the No.14 Wildcats’ 98-93 loss to the Oregon Ducks on the road at the Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday night.

The programme has been embattled recently with several issues leading to punishment handed down either to members of the coaching staff or to players themselves.

On Friday night, ESPN issued a report detailing the results of an FBI probe which revealed violations by several elite Division I programmes, including the Wildcats.

The report said Wildcats head coach Sean Miller was heard on an FBI wiretap discussing a $100,000 payment with Christian Dawkins to ensure Ayton would sign with Arizona.

Dawkins is a runner working for ASM Sports agent Andy Miller.

NCAA president Mark Emmert, said it would be up to Arizona to determine whether to hold out Ayton from playing or Miller from coaching as the investigation continued.

“First and foremost, that’s a decision the school has to make,” Emmert said in an interview on CBS in regards to the NCAA making a ruling on the probe.

“We’ve been in touch with every school that has a student-athlete involved [in the FBI investigation into the sport].”

Ayton was ruled eligible while Miller did not coach against Oregon.

With the performance Ayton turned in against Arizona, his teammates were impressed with the poise of the 19-year-old under the circumstances.

“I think he’s handled it like a professional,” senior point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright said. “I think the last 24 hours has been quite difficult for him, but he’s handled it like a professional, and it’s really good to see.”

Ayton family attorney, Lynden B Rose, issued a statement on behalf of the family expressing their “outrage and disgust” at the allegations connected to DeAndre.

In a statement, Rose said the family believes the reports “have falsely implied that their son or his family have any involvement in illegal or prohibited activities regarding his decision to matriculate at the University of Arizona.”

Rose said Ayton told the FBI last year “that he never discussed or solicited payments from the University of Arizona, or any other university, or any shoe company or anyone on behalf of either -- period. This includes basketball and anything else.”

He also said Ayton’s decision to commit to the Wildcats was based on “family ties to Phoenix” as well as his familiarity with the programme and the area - he previously played at Hillcrest Prep Academy in Phoenix.

“Although the FBI does not routinely do so (although exceptions have been made), DeAndre’s family certainly believes it is appropriate for that law enforcement agency, as well as NCAA and University of Arizona, to make public statements which unquestionably clears DeAndre’s good name,” the statement said.

In addition to the issues surrounding Ayton and Miller, the Wildcats were without one of their leading scorers, Allonzo Trier, after he tested positive for a banned substance. The university is appealing the ruling.

Furthermore, the programme began the season shrouded in controversy since the season began.

Former Wildcats Assistant Coach Emmanuel “Book” Richardson was one of 10 people - including four NCAA assistant coaches - named by federal prosecutors in the scandal that has rocked college basketball.

It is alleged that Richardson accepted approximately $20,000 in agents in exchange as payment to steer Arizona players to their company once they reach the professional level. According to federal documents, the payments were given to recruits to secure their commitments to Arizona.

He was fired by the university in January and was charged with six felonies. He pleaded not guilty and faces up to 60 years in prison and $1.5 million in fines.

The Wildcats will continue their chase of the conference title when they host the Stanford Cardinal on Thursday night in Tuscon, Arizona.

There has been no word on whether Ayton or the university will face further sanctions as results of the probe continue to unravel.