Mitchell Burleson/Archive
Former Head Coach Mark Gottfried walks back to the locker room with freshman guard Dennis Smith Jr. after his last game as the coach of the Wolfpack on March 7, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Wolfpack was defeated by Clemson 75-61 during the first round of the 2017 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament.
A report from ESPN’s Mark Schlabach Friday night alleges that former NC State men’s basketball head coach Mark Gottfried was directly involved with cash payments made to former NC State player Dennis Smith Jr.
The report states that federal prosecutors disclosed that former NC State assistant Orlando Early’s attorney said Early twice gave him envelopes that Early believed had cash in them to give to Smith Jr.’s trainer to make sure he signed with NC State.
Schlabach reports that his sources said the allegations about Gottfried were never brought up during the criminal trial, but were included in the sentencing memorandum for former Adidas executive James Gatto, who will spend nine months in federal prison for his role in the scandal.
Scott Tompsett, Gottfried’s attorney, told ESPN that he disputed the allegations and that the statement was “not corroborated by a shred of evidence”.
NC State Associate Athletics Director Fred Demarest responded to the report Friday evening.
“If such information exists, it has not been shared with the University,” Demarest said via text message.