šŸ€ Will Wade, and the FBI tapes, to hit HBO in new documentary "The Scheme." Pitino and others are being covered.

This documentary presents delicious recordings of coaches talking oh-so-frankly of cash-on-the-barrel recruiting. And its strength lies in its strand-pulling, building a narrative that allows viewers to make sense of the recruiting game.

If you are an alumnus, or even just a fan, of Arizona, L.S.U. or Kansas — or, if we’re honest, most universities — and tempted to close your eyes, clap your hands over ears and deny your coach knew anything, this documentary arrives like a cold shower.

On another recording, which has never been heard publicly and remains under a judge’s seal, Dawkins listens as Wade, the L.S.U. coach, boasts with an expletive of a ā€œstrongā€ offer to a recruit, with the dollar value apparently tilted toward the family. ā€œI know why he didn’t take it. It was,ā€ Wade said, ā€œtilted toward his family.ā€

This offer, Wade added a touch hyperbolically, would ā€œcompensate him more thanā€ the N.B.A.’s rookie minimum salary.

Miller later talks with Dawkins and gives Wade an appreciative nod, saying he is driving up the costs of recruiting. ā€œI’ll tell you what, I give him credit,ā€ Miller said, adding a vulgarity.

 
CBS Sports was provided a screener of the documentary in advance of its airing.

In an undated call between Dawkins and Wade from the summer of 2017 (when we know the FBI tapped Dawkins' phone), the following conversation is had:

WADE: Hopefully (Jaron) Blossomgame's not blowing you up too much right now.

DAWKINS: Well listen, I mean [expletive], he could be playing for LSU or some [expletive]. He could have fifth-year eligibility and if he doesn't get drafted like Randolph Morris or some [expletive] like that.

WADE: We'll take that. We'll take it.

DAWKINS: I know you will. I know you will.

WADE: We could compensate him better than the rookie minimum.

DAWKINS (laughing): You probably right about that, too.

WADE: We'd give him more than the the D-League.

DAWKINS: Exactly. Exactly. God bless us all. God bless us all. So, what's the good word, though?

WADE: All right I was thinking last night on this Smart thing. Like, I'll be honest with you, I'm [expletive] tired of dealing with the thing. Like I'm just [expletive] sick of dealing with this [expletive]. What do you think, 'cause I went to him with a [expletive] strong-ass offer about a month ago. [Expletive] strong. Now, the problem was, I know why he didn't take it now -- it was [expletive] tilted toward the family a little bit. But I mean it was a [expletive] hell of a [expletive] offer. Like, hell of an offer. Especially for a kid who's going to be a two- or three-year kid.

DAWKINS: Right.

WADE: I've made deals for as good a players as him that were [expletive] a lot simpler than this.



 
WADE: All right I was thinking last night on this Smart thing. Like, I'll be honest with you, I'm [expletive] tired of dealing with the thing. Like I'm just [expletive] sick of dealing with this [expletive]. What do you think, 'cause I went to him with a [expletive] strong-ass offer about a month ago. [Expletive] strong. Now, the problem was, I know why he didn't take it now -- it was [expletive] tilted toward the family a little bit. But I mean it was a [expletive] hell of a [expletive] offer. Like, hell of an offer. Especially for a kid who's going to be a two- or three-year kid.




Unless I just missed it, I see nothing here about Bruce Pearl though. Guess the bagman is pretty damn good at what he does.
 
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