Current LSU coach Will Wade’s name was brought up in court during a federal conspiracy trial against former Adidas executives Merl Code and Jim Gatto and sports agent Christian Dawkins.
Defense attorney Casey Donnelly presented a recording of a conversation between Wade and Dawkins about 2019 recruit Balsa Koprivica. Koprivica is a 7-foot, 240-pound center originally from Serbia who currently attends Montverde Academy in Florida.
According to Yahoo! Sports reporter Dan Wetzel, Dawkins asked Wade if he wants Balsa, and Wade asks if it is the big kid. When Dawkins confirmed it was, Wade reportedly said “OK, but there is other [expletive] involved in it.” Then Wade is heard saying “Wait, I’ve got to shut the door … I can get you what you need but it’s got to work.”
Judge Lewis A. Kaplan denied the defense’s attempts to have the recording entered into evidence and deemed it inadmissible in the case.
LSU officials declined to comment on the matter. Wade is set to talk at SEC basketball media days on Wednesday at 2:40 p.m.