By Mercer Sullivan

Following an exciting 2017-18 college basketball season, many are gearing up for another great season while others are gearing up for more trials.

   Coaches across the country have been fired and parents are being put on trial all because of the corrupt nature of college sports. Three men were found guilty on Wednesday, October 24, of corrupting college basketball by paying young athletes to attend schools sponsored by sportswear giants such as Adidas.

   Ex-Adidas executive James Gatto, ex-Adidas consultant Merl Code and sports business agent Christian Dawkins were found guilty after a three day deliberation. The men are looking to face decades in prison, but are expected to rececive much less. they will be sentenced on March 5, 2019.

   Brian Bowen Sr. told the jury that he’s been getting paid under the table to send his talented son, Brian “Tugs” Bowen, to several teams and schools long before his son was ready to even start looking into playing college basketball. Once it came time to pick a college to play for, the offers came pouring in, including the University of Arizona, Oklahoma State, and the University of Texas. Bowen Sr. testified on a non-prosecution deal to testify on an 100,000 dollar deal for his son to play.

   Many players have been banned from playing in the NCAA as well as many coaches have been fired including Rick Pitino. Pitino, coach of Louisville, has not even been accused of any wrongdoing.

   Zion Williamson was a five-star recruit; his father had asked the Kansas coach, Kurtis Townsend, for money, housing and a job. FBI wiretaps caught Townsend in the deal. Williamson ultimately ended up playing for Duke.

   “The NCAA is the governing body that sets the rules and regulations for colleges and universities,” said Reynolds athletic director Brad Fisher. “I wouldn’t say they are corrupt, but there are people associated with the programs, like boosters, that are the ones causing the problems.”

   While the NCAA is a large corporation, it is the boosters and brands that are bringing in the money to pay these students and are getting them to sign with certain schools.

   “The NCAA will be just fine,” Fisher said. “There are over 1000 colleges and universities involved in the NCAA in Division 1, 2 and 3. And it’s just a very small number of athletes that are affected.”

   The NCAA is facing a large problem but it has been going on for a long time, and very few are affected.

   Sophomore basketball player, Jack Jordan, has a very different view on the situation,

   “I think the NCAA should let people do what they please,” said Jordan, “so they can both support the NCAA and the players and it would make college basketball a lot more fun to watch without all the one and dones.”

   The NCAA has a confusing future ahead of it, as everyone will wait to see what happens to the players, coaches and parents. The many different courses of action will determine how NCAA college basketball will respond.

Photo Provided by Creative Commons