NEW YORK — A former consultant for Adidas America testified Wednesday in federal court that he made concealed payments on behalf of the shoe company to the families of five elite basketball prospects — including former Arizona Wildcats star and No. 1 NBA draft pick Deandre Ayton.
Thomas “T.J.” Gassnola, 46, said he worked with Adidas to make payments to Ayton and four players who landed at Adidas schools: Brian Bowen (Louisville), Silvio de Sousa and Billy Preston (Kansas) and Dennis Smith Jr. (N.C. State). Ayton verbally committed to the UA, a Nike school, in September 2016. The decision surprised recruiting experts, many of whom believed he’d commit to Kansas.