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Questions continue to swirl around ESPN's report involving Sean Miller allegedly discussing paying $100,000 to get Deandre Ayton to play at Arizona on an FBI wiretap.
The Wildcats coach vehemently denied the allegation to the media on Thursday and now, another major sports-media outlet has reported that it has a source that says ESPN's report was inaccurate.
SI.com's Michael McCann wrote Thursday: "A source familiar with the college hoops corruption investigation confirmed with SI that the details of a wiretapped phone call involving Miller were inaccurately reported in a story by ESPN that said Miller 'discussed paying $100,000 to ensure star freshman Deandre Ayton signed with the Wildcats.'
RELATED: ESPN, writer stand by FBI wiretap report as scrutiny increases
RELATED: Miller denies ESPN report, says he 'looks forward to coaching' Wildcats
"According to the source, relevant FBI wiretaps in the investigation did not begin until 2017—months after five-star recruit Deandre Ayton had already committed to Arizona in Sept. 2016. This account is consistent with reporting by Evan Daniels of 247Sports. The recruitment of Ayton, therefore, would have not been at issue in an intercepted phone call that occurred in 2017. To that end, the source told SI what Miller clarified for the first time Thursday: Ayton is not the player on whose behalf former ASM Sports employee Christian Dawkins allegedly sought a payment from Miller, and Miller never pursued or made any payments to a recruit associated with Dawkins."
Miller addressed Ayton in his statement Thursday:
"I cannot remain silent in light of media reports that have impugned the reputation of me and the university and sullied the name of a tremendous young man, Deandre Ayton," Miller said. "Let me be very very clear: I have never discussed with Christian Dawkins paying Deandre Ayton to attend the University of Arizona. In fact, I never even met or spoke to Christian Dawkins until after Deandre publicly announced he was coming to our school. Any reporting to the contrary is inaccurate, false and defamatory.
"I'm outraged by the media statements have been made and the acceptance by many that these statements were true. There was no such conversation. These statements have damaged me, my family, the university, Deandre Ayton and his incredible family."
Seeds of doubt arise in ESPN report
This report from SI further clouds the strength of ESPN's reporting on the subject. Seeds of doubt had arose since the network published the story Friday, primarily involving the timeline not adding up in regards to Ayton and Arizona and the source of the wiretap leak to ESPN.
Deadspin, 247Sports and Yahoo Sports were among the organizations to call ESPN's reporting into question.
The reporter who published the story, Mark Schlabach, hasn't tweeted since Feb. 25.
ESPN issues statement on reporting in wiretap report
ESPN included the following in its story of Sean Miller's statement on Thursday:
"Miller did not mention ESPN by name in his comments Thursday and did not take questions after making his statement. ESPN stands by its reporting on Miller and the FBI investigation."
MORE: Could ESPN's Sean Miller wiretap report be wrong? Seeds of doubt arise
SEAN MILLER'S STATEMENT: Read the full transcript of his address to the media
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