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The University of Oregon announced Thursday that it has asked federal prosecutors for information to substantiate or dispute allegations that the university has offered an "astronomical" amount of money in 2017 to play in Eugene.
Dana Altman and his staff, saying they "uphold the highest standards of integrity in recruiting." The university said it was conducted last year and again this week and found no evidence of wrongdoing within its program.
Thursday's statement comes two days after a defense attorney for James Gatto, an Adidas executive, allegedly in a New York courtroom that Oregon had offered to Brian Bowen. Gatto stands accused of a break at Bowen to Louisville, a school with Adidas ties. Gatto's attorney claims Gatto was caught in a bidding war with Oregon, which is endorsed by Nike.
The university on Tuesday would not answer questions about whether it would take any investigative steps in response to explosive allegations.
But on Thursday, the university said it was reached to federal prosecutors to "ascertain whether or not exists to substantiate this claim." Tobin Klinger said, but prosecutors have not responded.
Klinger said in an email: "That's all we have to share at this time."
The university on Thursday said it was conducted last year, in response to a sweeping FBI investigation into bribery within college basketball, and found no evidence that its recruits had been offered money. This week, university officials again contacted coaches and staff of the program and found no evidence of wrongdoing, according to the university.
The Oregonian on Thursday.
Neither the University of Oregon nor any of the employees involved in the investigation of corruption in college basketball. The trial, which begins this week, is expected to last a month.
Below is the university's full statement:
A claim was made in this week that the University of Oregon offered a student-athlete in men's basketball. The UO takes this claim very seriously.
We have reached to the US Attorney's Office in the field to ascertain whether or not it exists to substantiate this claim. They have not yet responded to our inquiry. To date, the UO has never been contacted by any of the parties involved in criminal matters.
Last year, in response to allegations of fraudulent recruiting practices within college basketball, the UO conducted interviews with members of the men's basketball staff and reviewed player recruiting practices. That review found that the UO had used monetary prospective to prospective student-athletes or their family members to wait for the UO. After the claim was made in federal court this week, we still spoke with members of the basketball coaching staff and, again, found no evidence that illicit conduct occurred.
Dana Altman and members of his staff are of the highest quality of integrity in recruiting. Coach Altman is one of the nation's most respected men's basketball coaches, and we are proud of his strong track record of success on and off the court.
We will continue to closely monitor U.S. district court proceedings in the Southern District of New York.
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