Arizona Basketball: How is Emmanuel Richardson involved in FBI investigation?
By Taylor Sturm
Four assistant coaches were charged as part of an FBI investigation into fraud and corruption in college basketball – one of whom is Arizona Wildcats’ assistant Emmanuel Richardson.
The Arizona Wildcats will head into the 2017-18 college basketball season as one of the favorites to win the National Championship and deservedly so.
With a mix of veteran talent and youth, this team is built for an extended run in March, and it would be a surprise if any other team can knock them off the top of their perch in the Pac-12.
Unfortunately, things may not be all they seem, as assistant coach Emmanuel Richardson was charged as a part of a fraud and corruption investigation by the FBI.
The charges state that Richardson has received multiple bribes in his time as an assistant coach, specifically highlighting a meeting between Richardson and an undercover agent in which he received $20,000 in June and July.
His exact charges are “conspiracy to commit bribery, solicitation of bribes by an agent of a federally funded organization, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, wire fraud conspiracy and travel act conspiracy”
This could get really bad for the Wildcats, as the FBI allegedly recorded a conversation in which Richardson discussed how he was paying a recruit to play for the University of Arizona. If true, the NCAA could be after Arizona and the other schools implicated next.
Next: Projecting Arizona's 2017-18 starters and bench
This is a massive breaking news story across the college basketball landscape, and it does not look like quieting down anytime soon. We’ll keep you updated here at Busting Brackets as we learn any new information.