Several ex-Wildcats who played under Sean Miller have stepped up over the last 48 hours to defend his reported involvement in the FBI's investigation of corruption in college basketball.
The latest one: Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon, who was a one-and-done after the 2013-14 season. After the Magic fell to the 76ers 116-105 in Philadelphia Saturday night, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel asked Gordon about ESPN's report of wiretapped phone conversations between Miller and former sports agent Christian Dawkins to arrange a $100,000 payment for Deandre Ayton to play at Arizona.Β
βSean Miller was nothing but great for me and especially the guys that were on that team: T.J. (McConnell), myself, Rondae (Hollis-Jefferson),β Gordon told the Sentinel.Β βHe was nothing but great β just upstanding, just a role model and a great coach, a great person. This doesnβt take away from who he is as a person and who he is as a coach. Heβs very successful.β
Gordon also added that the NCAA has a "stranglehold" on revenue and that student-athletes should receive payments.Β
"They need to start paying players, they really do. They need to start paying players more. Itβs too bad that the FBI is so concerned with that and not concerned with other things. Itβs just a domino effect at this point. You want to tip one over and the rest are going to go down. So the NCAA should pay players,β he said.
Miller's job at the UA could be in jeopardy if the report is proven accurate, but Gordon still believes his Miller's career holds a bright a future.Β
"Heβs such a hard worker, just an incredibly hard worker. A great coach. But his future is still bright when it comes to coaching. An awesome guy. Whether itβs in the NBA or whether itβs in college, heβs going to keep coaching. Heβs got coaching in his blood. Itβs too bad to see that.β
