Sports

Father testifies on pay for play at college hoops programs

04 of October 2018

THIS CORRECTS THE IDENTIFICATION TO BRIAN BOWEN SR., AND NOT MERL CODE, AS ORIGINALLY SENT - Brian Bowen Sr. arrives at federal court, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, in New York. When Brian Bowen Jr., one of America's brightest high school basketball stars, announced in June 2017 that he would attend the University of Louisville, a school that had not been on anyone's radar as his possible destination, sportswriters called it a coup that "came out of nowhere." In a trial that began Monday, federal prosecutors will argue that the signing wasn't luck at all but the result of a payoff to Bowen's father. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan),THIS CORRECTS THE IDENTIFICATION TO BRIAN BOWEN SR., AND NOT MERL CODE, AS ORIGINALLY SENT - Brian Bowen Sr. arrives at federal court, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, in New York. When Brian Bowen Jr., one of America's brightest high school basketball stars, announced in June 2017 that he would attend the University of Louisville, a school that had not been on anyone's radar as his possible destination, sportswriters called it a coup that "came out of nowhere." In a trial that began Monday, federal prosecutors will argue that the signing wasn't luck at all but the result of a payoff to Bowen's father. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

NEW YORK (AP) — The father of a top college basketball prospect has testified that his son was offered thousands of dollars to play at several major programs.

Brian Bowen Sr. testified Thursday at a federal trial in New York that aspiring agent Christian Dawkins told him he could get $50,000 to play at the University of Arizona, $150,000 to go to Oklahoma State or $100,000 to go to Creighton. He said there was interest from Oregon but he didn’t recall a cash offer.

Bowen was testifying at the New York City trial of Dawkins and two other defendants accused of making secret payments to recruits’ families.

Prosecutors say Bowen’s son ended up signing with Louisville after a deal was struck to pay the family $100,000.

Brian Bowen Jr. now plays professionally in Australia.