Video shows claim of connection between Will Wade, $300k "deal" for Naz Reid

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Photo credit John David Mercer - USA TODAY Sports

Those who thought that LSU basketball coach Will Wade was in the clear might want to think again.

Many believed when Wade was issued a reprieve from having to testify in the ongoing federal NCAA corruption trial he had escaped any further punishment due to his possible involvement in pay-for-play schemes he's been connected too.  The ardent #FreeWillWade crowd also believed that the hire of new athletic director Scott Woodward, along with the prior removal of Joe Alleva, signaled the end of any threats to Wade's job status or the basketball program.

Those thoughts were always foolish, and LSU got a stark reminder today of just how enveloped Wade and the program currently are in this scandal.

According to reports, a undercover video was played in federal court today where Arizona ex-assistant coach Book Richardson said Wade offered him a job to help specifically with the recruitment of then high school standout Naz Reid. 

Richardson, on the tape, says Wade told him, "Look, there's a deal in place.  I got $300,000 for him." 

Richardson said he replied with an offer; "I said listen, (expletive) give me half and I'll make sure he goes there."

Also on tape, Richardson says LSU coach Will Wade offered him a job to help with recruitment of Naz Reid. Per Richardson, Wade said, “look, there’s a deal in place. I got $300,000 for him.” Richardson, “I said, give me half and I’ll make sure the kid goes there.”

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) April 29, 2019

There are a few discrepancies with the exact wording from Richardson, with Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports quoting Richardson as saying, "I said, give me half and I'll make sure the kid goes there."  Those slight variations in what Richardson said don't alter what the former Arizona coach is trying to convey: that Will Wade had a deal in place to send money to somebody, or multiple parties, to get Naz Reid in an LSU uniform.

This report is damning, just as much as the Christian Dawkins wiretaps were before.  Richardson is yet another source who is on tape discussing Wade paying money for, or to, recruits.

Richardson's words were corroborated by Monish Sood, a New Jersey-based financial adviser who pleaded guilty in the previous NCAA corruption case, according to Adam Zagoria of the New York Times and Forbes Sports.

"(Arizona) was recruiting him but LSU seems to be willing to pay him to go to LSU," Sood testified of Reid's recruitment.  "The head coach at LSU offered Emmanuel Richardson a job."

This is unlikely to be the last time that Wade and the LSU baseball program come up at this trial, or in further investigations down the road.  Woodward went on record offering his support of Wade just last week, but LSU took steps to revise Wade's contract which now allows them to terminate him for cause if Wade is found to have committed Level I or Level II NCAA violations, or if the NCAA infractions committee issues a formal notice Level I or Level II violations to LSU.

Reid has declared for the NBA draft, meaning his one year in Baton Rouge was likely his only in a Tigers uniform.