ASSOCIATED PRESSDuke says it is "looking into" lawyer Michael Avenatti's claims that Nike paid Zion Williamson's mother for "bogus consulting services" to an entity called Sharonda Sampson Consulting. A legal source checked with the South Carolina Secretary of State's Office and was told there is not now nor has there even been a registered business entity in the state called Sharonda Sampson Consulting or anything similar. In another, he asks the Duke account, "can you also have your close friends at @ Nike check their Nike Vendor Portal for payments to “Sharonda Sampson Consulting”. ASSOCIATED PRESSAvenatti separately said Nike paid Deandre Ayton (Arizona), Brandon McCoy (UNLV) and Bol Bol (Oregon) so they would attend Swoosh-sponsored schools. Last weekend before Duke's Sweet 16 game with Virginia Tech, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was asked about Avenatti's initial Tweets linking Nike to illicit payments to players.

Source: Forbes April 07, 2019 12:46 UTC