USC Investigates Report Of Basketball Player Payoffs

LOS ANGELES, CA — USC officials said Friday they will investigate allegations raised in a Yahoo Sports investigation that two basketball players and/or their representatives may have received payments from a sports agent in violation of NCAA rules.

The report, citing documents from an ongoing federal investigation, outlines allegations involving as many as two dozen players or their families from a former NBA sports agent named Andy Miller or his firm, ASM Sports.

According to Yahoo Sports, USC forward Bennie Boatwright and/or his father received at least $2,000, while forward Chimezie Metu and/or his adviser, Johnnie Parker, received $2,000. The report also contends that Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma received at least $9,500 while playing at the University of Utah.

USC officials issued a statement saying the university had just learned of the allegations based on the media report, "and we take these allegations very seriously.":

"USC Athletics places the highest priority on athletic compliance, and as we have demonstrated, we do not tolerate violations of our policies or NCAA rules," according to the university. "We will fully cooperate with the NCAA and federal authorities as well as conduct our own investigation into these allegations."

USC earlier fired assistant coach Tony Bland, who was arrested last year as part of a federal bribery probe of college basketball programs across the country.

City News Service; Photo: Southern California forward Chimezie Metu (4) reacts after making a last-second shot against Oregon to put Southern California ahead during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. USC won 72-70. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)