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NCAA Clears One AAU Coach Who Had Alleged Ties To Basketball Agent Andy Miller

Earlier this year, the NCAA banned three AAU teams from playing in NCAA-certified summer basketball events based on an NCAA finding that basketball agent Andy Miller of ASM Sports “implored” AAU team administrators to recruit future draft picks for his agency.  Another AAU team found to have ties to Andy Miller was the SEBL Elite All-stars (17U and 15U), but that club was permitted to continue play as long as it disassociated itself from its coach – Tony Edwards.  After further investigation, the NCAA has recently cleared Edwards based on “insufficient evidence available to establish a current association” between Edwards and Miller.

“Sometimes in these situations you have to let the NCAA do their jobs,” said SEBL founder and president Dwight Miller. “It seems like they’ve done a good job, come back and taken Tony’s name off and released him. The system we have built works, and I know Tony is relieved and his family, they’re relieved. It’s a great day for Tony and a great day for SEBL.”

Even though Edwards’ name has been cleared, the email sent by Andy Miller to AAU coaches remains a concern.  As a refresher, this is the text of the email that the NCAA got its hands on:

“I get tired of being the 1 guy that has to get the 1st rd [sic] picks every year. I’d be happy to help you get guys + lend support. You have to want it + have to hustle. To create situations to manifest chaos + plow down walls to open up new opp’s [sic]. We’re facing a summer with no revenue. Yet, everyone will expect their checks, expenses reimburse [sic], etc. I try to give a consistant [sic] platform inorder [sic] to facilitate production. Am I getting the level of production in return that I want or expect?…You decided to be apart [sic] of it on some level…Do more than just give it thought, act on it.”

By Darren Heitner

Darren Heitner created Sports Agent Blog as a New Year's Resolution on December 31, 2005. Originally titled, "I Want To Be A Sports Agent," the website was founded with the intention of causing Heitner to learn more about the profession that he wanted to join, meet reputable individuals in the space and force himself to stay on top of the latest news and trends.

Heitner now runs Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., which is a law firm with many practice areas, including sports law and contract law. Heitner has represented numerous athletes and sports agents as legal counsel. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington from 2011-2014, where he created and taught a course titled, Sport Agency Management, which included subjects ranging from NCAA regulations to athlete agent certification and the rules governing the profession. Heitner serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he teaches a Sports Law class that includes case law surrounding athlete agents and the NCAA rules.