Dennis Smith Jr. Named in FBI NCAA Basketball Investigation

We don’t like posting things like this, but documents dropped in the FBI’s investigation of NCAA Basketball and former NC State Dennis Smith Jr. is on them. Here is what they’ve found.

Dennis Smith, who would go on to play at North Carolina State in 2016-17, received $43,500 according to the documents. Another document headed “Pina,” for ASM agent Stephen Pina, says Smith received a total of $73,500 in loans and includes notes about “options to recoup the money” when Smith did not sign with ASM.

But it’s not only NC State being listed here. UNC is listed with Toney Bradley and Brice Johnson and Duke is on there with Wendell Carter. Clemson also is listed for Jaron Blossomgame.

There are tons of names listed in these documents, but they all have varying details. For instance, Dennis Smith Jr. seems to have taken money from an agent (in what appears to be an attempt to lock him up when he goes pro). When he didn’t sign with that agent, it appears they at least attempted to get it back. There is no mention of collusion with NC State University.

In fact, NC State actually seems to have a pretty good case here. Smith Jr. grew up a fan of NC State and always dreamed of playing in Raleigh. That’s been well documented. So it seems as if Smith Jr. took money from an agent and then felt free to choose the school of his choice without that school being involved in any money-dealings or improper benefits.

At the current time, this just looks bad for Smith Jr and Stephen Pina. Let’s hope it stays that way.

NC State has refused to comment at this time (as have most other schools). but the statement released by Xavier’s Chris Mack may foreshadow how schools will respond in the coming day or days. Here it is…

“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.”

Obviously, there will be a lot of updates as responses start coming out and more information is released. We’ll be here to bring it to you when more drops…