With the FBI literally probing college basketball, it seems as though every coach in the country is asked for his thoughts regarding every little detail happening. Kansas Jayhawks coach Bill Self is no different in this regard, but he is not holding back when it comes to his feelings on Adidas.
In an interview with The AP, Bill Self isn't incredibly shocked some people are involved, but that a company like Adidas in it should be considered significantly troublesome.
“That’s prevalent everywhere,” he said. “There’s nothing illegal about agents talking to kids and their families in ninth and 10th grade. There’s nothing illegal about shoe companies funding AAU programs. That is what’s been encouraged and done, so it shouldn’t be a surprise you could have influence from third parties.”
It is obviously worth noting that Kansas just signed a 12-year deal with Adidas, likely making Self's comments an issue between people who think he is attempting a level of transparency and conspiracy theorists.
It is also not lost on him that the school being connect to the company has likely resulted in some recruiting tactics.
“Whenever in recruiting there is something out there that has been reported, whether it’s reliable or unreliable, total myth, whatever, there’s usually competitors that make sure that information gets to people. Unfortunately, that’s how it works,” Self said. “You can say that’s negative recruiting … but a lot of times the things that are reported are so inaccurate it puts you on the defense.”
“I’d be lying,” Self said, “if I told you we hadn’t discussed these issues with kids. And has it hurt us to date? I don’t think it has. But it’s not signing day, either.”
This story remains forever developing.
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