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Report: Agent gave North Carolina players cash

Graham Watson

An investigation into sports agents by the North Carolina Secretary of State revealed the name of a man who allegedly gave UNC football player Marvin Austin, several other student-athletes across the country and a tutor money in exchange for their business when they became pros.

Austin told investigators Terry Watson of the Watson Sports Agency registered in Marietta, Ga., gave him money, including sending packages via FedEx that were worth upwards of $2,000.

A package also was sent to Jennifer Wiley, a UNC tutor, who was named for providing extra benefits to players from January 2009 – June 2010. Wiley paid the parking tickets of former football player Greg Little.

Here’s more information, according to WRALSportsFan.com:

In a raid on Watson's office, authorities found documents and text messages showing reports of money wired into student-athlete bank accounts. As of Dec. 12, 2012, investigators were still combing through "numerous wire transfer records to and from UNC-CH student-athletes, their relatives, friends, and others associated with them."

[Watson associate Patrick] Jones told investigators he regularly sent packages of cash to players whom Watson was trying to recruit, including other players at UNC. NCAA records show Watson also had contact with UNC players Charles Brown, Kendrick Burney and Little.

Watson first contacted Austin as early as Dec. 3, 2009, and they made contact 34 times in a six month span. In a September 2010 interview with agents from the Secretary of State, Austin said that he and Watson "met over dinner at a steak restaurant." That meeting was prior to Watson becoming a registered sports agent in the state of North Carolina and is in violation of the North Carolina Uniform Athletes Agent Act.

North Carolina football is currently serving probation through March 2015 after the NCAA handed down sanctions last March. It also vacated all of UNC's football wins from the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

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