Duke: “No Evidence” To Support Avanetti Allegations About Nike & Zion Williamson

As you will probably recall, Michael Avenatti made some allegations recently about Nike attempting to, or planning to, pay Zion Williamson and/or his family.

Duke has now addressed the matter.

Duke spokesman Michael Schoenfeld sent an e-mail to the Raleigh News & Observer and said this: “As soon as Duke was made aware of any allegation that might have affected Zion Williamson’s eligibility, we conducted a thorough and objective investigation which was directed by individuals outside the athletics department. We found no evidence to support any allegation. Zion thrived as both a student and an athlete at Duke, and always conducted himself with integrity and purpose.”

If we were skeptical, our only question here would be who the individuals out the athletic department were. It was a smart move by Duke to do that though. Institutions that investigate themselves tend to do to so poorly and certainly not objectively.