Duke 'looking into' Avenatti's claim Nike paid Williamson's mom
Duke University is "looking into" lawyer Michael Avenatti's claim that Nike paid Zion Williamson's mother to ensure her son chose to play college basketball for the Blue Devils.
“We are aware of the allegation, and, as we would with any compliance matter, are looking into it," Duke athletic director Kevin White said in a statement to The Chronicle's Ben Leonard.
On Friday, Avenatti inferred in a tweet that Nike paid Williamson's mother Sharonda Sampson for "bogus consulting services" during the forward's junior year of high school in 2016-17.
Avenatti, best known for representing former porn star Stormy Daniels in a failed defamation suit against President Donald Trump, has also alleged Nike paid multiple prep basketball stars such as Deandre Ayton and Bol Bol.
Avenatti's allegations came after federal prosecutors indicted the lawyer for trying to extort Nike and defraud a bank. When asked last week about Avenatti's claims involving the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski said, "there's nothing here."
Duke's athletic department has a contract with Nike that's reportedly worth over $4 million per year. The details of the apparel giant's relationship with Krzyzewski, and if the company pays him directly, aren't publicly known.
Williamson is expected to declare for June's NBA draft soon.