Jury hears closings at college hoops corruption trial

NEW YORK (AP) A New York City jury is hearing closing arguments over whether three men committed fraud by concealing cash payments they made to the families of top college basketball recruits.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Noah Solowiejczyk said at a federal trial on Wednesday that a former Adidas executive and two co-defendants engaged in a cover-up that tricked colleges into giving scholarships to players who should have been ineligible.

He says the recruiting scheme further harmed the schools by exposing them to possible NCAA sanctions.

Defense attorney Steven Haney argued that his client, business manager Christopher Dawkins, was actually helping the schools.

The defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges that they conspired to funnel payments to the families to get prospects to commit to schools sponsored by Adidas.